NINETY-FIRST 

*  *      THE      *  *  * 

FffiSM&MP  LEWIS 


ALICE     PALMER     HENDERSON 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT  LOS  ANGELES 


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>  1*V31 . 


E  R  R  A  T  T  A 

On  page  8,  tenth  line,  read  "Pierce"  instead  of  Lincoln. 

On  page  260,  fifth  line,  read  "firs"  instead  of  fires. 

On  last  page  of  blank  inset,  first  line,  read  "come"  instead  of  came. 

On  page  411,  fifteenth  line,  read  "Is  it  he"  instead  of  it  is  he  , 

On  page  435,  nineteenth  line,  read  "amenable"  instead  of  amendable. 

On  page  438,  twelfth  line,  read  "Superior  Court"  instead  of  Federal. 

On  page  457,  eighth  line,  read  '"scarred"  instead  of  scared. 

On  page  461,  nineteenth  line,  read  "romantic"  instead  of  romatic. 

On  page  8,  eighteenth  line,  read  "Van  Trump"  instead  of  Van  Trompe. 


THE  NINETY-FIRST 


THE 


FIRST  AT  CAMP  LEWIS 


By  ALICE  PALMER  HENDERSON 


AUTHOR  OF 
THE  RAINBOW'S  END  :  ALASKA 

Member  of  the  Jury  of  Ethnology  at  World's  Columbian  Exposition, 

and  of  Same  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition:  Member 

of  the  American  Association  for  Advancement  of  Science, 

of    the    International    Eolk    Lore   Society,  of 

Americanists,  and  Honorary  Life  Member 

Washington  State  Historical  Society 


Published  by 
JOHN  C.  BARR 

Tacoma,  Washington 

Sold  only  by  Prepaid  Subscription  Direct  to  the  Publisher 


Copyrighted,  1918 
By  ALICE  PALMER  HENDERSON 

All  Rights  Reserved. 


PRESS  OF 

SMITH-KINNEY  CO. 
Tacoma,  Washington 


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CONTENTS 

Chapter  Page 

I.     One  to  Make  Ready   1 

II.     Capt.  Ehrnbeck  Not  the  First  Photographer 15 

III.  Welcomes    the    First,    Which    Is    the    Ninety-First,    at 

Camp  Lewis    29 

IV.  The  Base  Hospital   40 

V.     Right  Forward,  Army  Nurses    62 

VI.     Gen.  Greene's  Record,  Characteristics,  Influence   74 

VII.     Brigadier-General  Irons  and  His  Xmas  Greeting 106 

VIII.     The  166th  Depot  Brigade   116 

IX.     Soldiers'   Singing  and  Robert  Lloyd,  First  Army   Song 
^  Director  in  the  World   140 

^  X.     Liberty  Library  and  Prof.  Ruby   148 

i    i  XI.     Liberty  Theatre  and  Manager  Braden    157 

XII.     Brig.-Gen.   Foltz,   Commanding    166 

XIII.     The  181st  Brigade  and  Commander  Styer   194 

XIV.     Machine  Guns  Connecting  Link  Between  Infantry  and 
^  Artillery    227 

XV.     New  Importance  of  Artillery   237 

XVI.     The  Engineer  Corps    276 

XVII.     The  Military  Police   298 

XVIII.     Signal  Service  Corps   335 

o  XIX.     The  Quartermaster  Department's  Wide  Scope   349 

^  XX.     The  Intelligence  School  372 

,0  XXI.     Athletics    387 

XXII.     Hail  and  Farewell    404 

Psalm  XCI. 
Memorial  Day 

XXIII.     Hostess  House   " 413 

Mothers'  Day 

XXIV.     Religious  Creeds  by  Census  at  Camp  Lewis   444 

Red  Cross  Military  Relief  Bureau 

XXV.     One  Man  Likes  "Wild  West"  for  Division  Nickname. .  472 

XXVI.     The  First— Last  44th  Infantry   497 


168833 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Page 

Nisqually  Plain    

Captain  Meriwether  Lewis   

Commodore  Charles  Wilkes,  U.  S.  N 

Sequalichew  Lake  and  Springs   7 

Major  General  J.  Franklin  Bell 9 

Frank  S.  Baker   10 

Lieut.  Col.  A.  R.  Ehrnbeck 16 

Lieut.  Col.  David  L.  Stone   17 

Sequalichew  Springs 20 

Charles  B.  Hurley 22 

Liberty  Gate 

Herbert  W.  Hauck,  First  Private  at  Camp  Lewis   

Screened  in  Isolation  Ward   

Medical  Corps  of  the  Base  Hospital   56,    57 

Miss  Jenny  Booth,  Chief  of  Nurses,  Base  Hospital   64 

Miss  Ethel  Allen,  First  Red  Cross  Nurse's  Aid  67 

Camp  Lewis  Base  Hospital  Nurses 72,    73 

Major  James  Green   78 

Headquarters    86 

The  Commandant,  Division  Officers  and  Assistants    88,    89 

Capt.  D.  M.  Welty   92 

Capt.  Daniel  J.  Coman 98 

Lieut.  H.  D.  Hoover  102 

Brig.-Gen.  James  A.  Irons   107 

Col.  P.  W.  Davison,  Commanding  the  Depot  Brigade 117 

Depot  Brigade  Library   .  ; 119 

Col.  Benjamin  B.  Hyer   126 

Dr.  Thomas  E.  Winecoff  129 

Eli  George,  First  American  Indian  to  Die  in  the  War 133 

Officers'  Club  House   135 

A  Few  "Old  Timers"  (Cartoon)    137 

Robert  Lloyd,  First  Army  Song  Director 141 

The  Quartette   (Cartoon)    147 

E.  E.  Ruby,  Librarian  Liberty  Library 149 

Liberty  Library  Alcove   153 

Periodical  Reading  Room,  Liberty  Library 155 

Capt.  Braden,  Manager  of  Liberty  Library 158 

Brigadier-General  F.  S.  Foltz   167 

Colonel  Harry  LaT.  Cavanaugh   177 

Col.  Cavanaugh,  Mayor  Rolf  and  Others   ' 183 

363rd  Marching  Under  Arms  in  Calgary  186 

Charge,   Bayonets    188 

A  Bayonet  Leap    189 

Chaplain   Wilson    191 

Brigadier-General  H.  D.  Styer    195 

Col.  W.  D.  Davis 199 

Honor  Guests  and  Officers  of  the  361st 200,  201 

Pushball ; 206 

Chaplain  Bronson    209 

Col.   Whitworth    212 

Lieut.-Col.  Jordan    219 

Lieut.   Guibert    222 

Capt.  A.  S.  Foskett 232 

Brig.-Gen.  Edward  Burr  "        239 

Col.  R.  S.  Pratt 245 


ILLUSTRATIONS— Continued 

Page 

Maj.  G.  S.  Gay   247 

Chaplain  Nooy   251 

Col.  R.  S.  Granger   252 

Maj.  F.  L.  Taylor  255 

Sergeant-Major  Thomas  J.  Costello   259 

Lee  Whelan,  First  to  Be  Buried  at  Camp  Lewis 261 

Chaplain  Lacombe  and  Maj.  Bunyas   262 

Col.   Samuel  F.  Bottoms    264 

These  Headed  the  Rodeo   266 

The  Firing  Signal   270 

Lieut.  Stephen  Barren   272 

Capt.  Mawdsley   274 

Col.  Henry  C.  Jewett  277 

Capt.  Powell   281 

Engineers'  Headquarters   284 

Adj.  Brizou   286 

Capt.  Delprat  Keen    288 

Capt.  Batal   291 

Dugout 292 

Engineers'  Depot 294 

Lieut.  Milton  C.  Lutz    296 

Col.  Saville   301 

Capt.   Thornberry    307 

Motor  Truck 310 

Lieut.  Col.  Allen  Smith   311 

Maj.  Morris  J.  Shupe 313 

Chaplain  C.  A.  Rexroad   317 

Lieut.  Col.  Harry  B.  Reynolds 320 

The   Masonic  Ambulance   Unit    328,  329 

Maj.  Wyman  and  Maj.  Danvers   336 

Field  Water  Supply  337 

Field  Telegraph   338 

Lieut.  O.  Lamarche 339 

Signalling    344 

Lieut.  Col.  F.  W.  Coleman   352 

Lieut.  Col.  James  F.  Como  356 

Field   Oven    364 

Lieut.  Harold  Mallum    367 

Capt.   Dieterick   Oldenborg    370 

Lieut.  F.  H.  Pugh 380 

Lieut.  Warrell  Watching  Bayonet  Drill 382 

Capt.  Champion   385 

The  91st  Athletic  Directors   388 

Boxing  Contest 392 

Thowing  Hand  Grenades 395 

Stretcher  Bearers   397 

The  91st  Champion  Soccer  Team 399 

The  Hostess  House 414 

Mrs.  MacMasters   415 

Interior  of  Hostess  House 420 

The  Line  of  Darbs   426 

Constance  H.  Clark 430 

Mrs.  McCrackin 433 

Knights  of  Columbus  Hall   445 

Elder  Calvin  S.  Smith   447 

Lieut.  Louis  D.  Egelson 452 

Interior  Jewish  Assembly  Hall 453 

A.  M.  Grilley  458 


ILLUSTRATIONS— Contwiml 

Page 

Chapin  D.  Foster   46?> 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building 464 

Remount  Officers   476 

The  Dipping  Vat 479 

The  Remount  Library   485 

Interior  of  Remount  Library  487 

Group  of  Remount  Riders 491 

Sergeant  Billy  Richardson  and  Sir  Julian   495 

Col.  Edward  N.  Jones   493 

Chaplain  John  T.  Kendall    504 

A  Great  Leap 506 


This  book,  attempting  only  to  lay  away  a  few  Remembrances, 
to  indicate  some  Compensations  for  those  who  have  given  their 
dearest  to  the  Service,  and  who,  like  Mrs.  Greene  herself,  live  on 
bravely  and  helpfully  at  Home:  a  book  upon  whose  blank  pages 
they  may  themselves  indite  the  deeds  of  those  who  go,  and  in 
which,  returning  from  Over  There,  men  of  the  Ninety-First  may 
re-live  their  experiences  at  Camp  Lewis — this  inadequate  book  is 

DEDICATED 

To  Major-General  Henry  A.  Greene,  U.  S.  N.  A. 
First   Commandant  of  Camp  Lewis,  which  Camp,  Namesake  of  this 

Region's 

First   Explorer,  was  of  its  kind  the 

First   Gift  to  the  United  States  in  all  its  History,  and  the 
First   Cantonment  Completed  for  the 
First   National  Army  our  Country  had  assembled: 

To  Major-General  Greene,  Commanding  the 
First   of  Divisions  trained  at  Camp  Lewis,  and 

Ranking  Officer  in  the  Honor  and  Affection  of  that 
Ninety-First   Division    not   only,    but   in   the   widespread    Homes   of 

those  who  entrusted  their  young  Men  to  their  Country. 

— THE  AUTHOR. 


FOREWORD 

This  book  was  written  with  more  thought  of  doing  its  mite 
for  the  war,  for  the  men  who  are  fighting  it,  for  their  people  who 
are  giving  them,  than  for  gain. 

It  was  published  without  assistance  from  Anybody  or  any 
Body.  A  latter  went  so  far  as  to  endorse  the  book,  a  fifth  wheel 
if  ever  it  "got  to  go" — published,  it  would  speak  for  itself.  If 
it  died  a-borning,  the  project  not  the  wheel,  that  endorsement 

would   be   a   wreath   upon   its   coffin and    no    coffin.      To   be   sure, 

the  91st  had  brought  prosperity  but  had  left  it  behind,  so  why 
trouble  about  that  Division?  Another  had  taken  its  place.  The 
king  is  dead:  Long  live  the  King! 

It  was  published  without  Anybody's  assistance,  even  in  ad- 
vance subscriptions,  nor  did  any  civilians  even  know  they  were 
mentioned,  will  not,  unless  some  one  tells,  or  they  draw  the  book 
from  the  library.  Furthermore,  nothing  but  photographs  was 
furnished  for  half-tones. 

The  most  entertaining  material  gathered  for  this  book  was 
what  was  wisest  and  kindest  unsaid,  and  is  therefore  unwritten, 
while  literary  style  has  been  sacrificed  in  speech  to  many  men  of 
many  minds. 

The  91st,  the  First  at  Camp  Lewis  is  under  no  obligations 
save  and  except  to  the  man  who  will,  at  the  very  last,  amazedly 
set  this: 

"Fate  tried  to  conceal  him  by  naming  him  Smith," 
John  at  that,  of  Smith-Kinney  Co.,  Printers  of  the  book,  whose 
faith,  and  works,  it  embodies.  If  then,  any  part  of  its  object  is 
achieved  by  the  book,  Ninety-First,  Kin,  Descendants,  you  owe  him 
thanks,  and  so,  a  thousand  thanks,  does 

—THE   AUTHOR 


The  91st,  the  First  at  Camp  Lewis 


CHAPTER  I. 

ONE  TO  MAKE  READY — FOR  CAMP  LEWIS — CAPT.  LEWIS — 
COMMODORE  WILKES — COMMITTEES — GEN.  BELL— LYLE — 
ACCEPTANCE 

Nature  is  always  prepared,  always  her  work  is  well 
forward;  it  is  Man  who  is  unprepared.  Neither  does 
Nature  dawdle  nor  hesitate;  she  strikes  while  the  iron 
is  hot  or  the  ice  cold.  Both  primeval  tools  she  employed 
in  fashioning  a  worthy  camp  for  the  God  of  War.  She 
burned  out  the  mountains  and  pushod  them  back  with  the 
strong  white  arms  of  her  glacier.  Her  icy  fingers  clutched 
the  shoreline,  breaking  it  in  many  places  wherein  the 
sapphire  sea  rushed.  This  much  accomplished,  the  glacier 
receded,  having  graded  the  great  stretch,  leaving  behind 
a  bed  of  gravel  to  drain  the  area  for  a  people  yet  unborn, 
material  for  solid  roadways  to  be  trodden  by  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  marching  feet,  for  highways  crowded 
with  huge  motors  run  by  a  force  not  yet  harnessed.  Upon 
this  stone  foundation,  one  hundred,  aye  two  hundred  feet 
through,  for  Freedom's  fortress  must  be  a  mighty  strong- 
hold, Nature  laid  a  stingy  soil,  that  in  a  land  of  heavy 
loam,  this  should  be  slighted  till  the  need  arise.  She 
sifted  it  over  with  black  lava  ash  and  seeded  it  with 
grass,  frugal  Mother  Nature,  that  the  land  should  at 
least  pay  for  its  own  keep.  Indians  came,  pastured  their 
horses  upon  it,  dug  the  camas,  gathered  the  little  wild 
strawberries,  but  never  the  wild  flowers,  though  they 
loved  them,  these,  say  they,  belong  only  to  Mother  Earth. 
So  the  baby  name  of  the  waiting  land  was  Nisqually. 
But  this  was  long  after.  Nature  enclosed  these  low 
hills  covered  with  tall  straight  trees  and  no  underbrush 

§  2 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


NISQUALLY  PLAIN 


such  as  all  nearby  forests  bear,  that  the  snow-clad  Cas- 
cades might  loom  behind  in  full  glory.  She  fertilized 
patches  here  and  there  and  planted  the  camouflaged 
sterile  ground  itself  with  groups  of  stately  firs,  their 
branches  sweeping  the  grass,  father  tree  and  mother 
tree,  with  their  children  gathered  close,  to  the  tiny  baby 
tree,  each  family  within  its  own  stately  park.  Of  course, 
you  understand  why  all  this  beauty  was,  that  the  pre- 
destined land  should  not  be  forgotten,  even  if  it  did  not 
all  invite  the  settler.  To  make  sure,  she  added  a  large 
and  very  beautiful  lake  to  attract  the  pleasurer,  and  a 
smaller  for  a  bathing  place  for  the  great  need.  She 
filtered  many  mountain  springs  through  the  gravel  and 
gathered  them  to  furnish  water  for  the  hosts  to  come, 
saw  to  it  that  the  wood  supply  was  ample  even  for  them, 
set  the  great  mountain  sentry  over  the  place,  and  her 
work  was  done.  What  next? 

A    continent's    breadth    away,    in    old    Virginia,    Meri- 
wether  Lewis  was  born  two  years  before  the  Revolution. 


CAMP   LEWIS 


CAPTAIN  MERIWETHER  LEWIS,   U.   S.   A. 


From    a .  painting    in    possession    of    Missouri    Historical    Society,    Jefferson    Mem- 
orial,   St.    Louis. 

Signature  from  a  letter  written  by  Capt.   Lewis  three  days   before  his  death. 


4  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

At  twenty  he  volunteered  to  help  the  young  Republic 
down  the  Whisky  Rebellion  and  was  next  year  commis- 
sioned ensign  (lieutenant)  in  the  regular  amry,  and 
captain  in  1800.  For  three  years  thereafter  he  was  pri- 
vate secretary  to  President  Jefferson.  In  a  manner,  this 
vast  West  had  accrued  to  the  country  by  the  unbounded 
purchase  of  "Louisiana"  from  Napoleon,  and  the  See-r 
Jefferson,  persuaded  Congress  to  authorize  an  ex- 
pedition to  discover  what  lay  beyond.  Captain  Lewis 
was  placed  in  command,  Captain  Clark  second,  of  twenty- 
eight  men,  the  munificent  sum  of  twenty-five  hundred 
dollars  was  appropriated  for  special  outfit  and  trading 
goods  for  the  Indians,  and  the  First  Exploring  Expedi- 
tion by  our  Army;  and  one  of  the  most  remarkable  ever 
conducted,  started  Westward  in  1803,  to  be  gone  two 
years.  This  is  the  first  First  of  this  book.  Nothing, 
methinks,  is  more  interesting  than  the  very  first  time 
anything,  almost,  happened;  and  when,  like  this  and 
the  many  other  Firsts  you  will  note  hereafter,  the  accom- 
plishment was  so  great  in  itself  and  so  long  a  stride  in 
the  progress  of  Destiny  toward  this  Northwest,  it  is 
noteworthy  indeed.  So,  throughout  what  follows,  you 
can  trace  the  Firsts  gathered  upon  a  silver  thread,  and 
upon  a  golden,  Compensations. 

To  return  to  the  expedition:  It  ascended  the  Missouri 
to  its  turbulent  headwaters  in  Montana,  it  descended 
the  Columbia  to  its  mouth,  First  Explorers  North  of  Mex- 
ico to  reach  the  Pacific.  No  other  ever  accomplished 
more,  obtaining  diverse  information,  making  observations, 
visiting  many  tribes  of  Indians  that  had  never  before 
seen  white  men — another  First — and  bearing  everywhere 
what  came  to  be  known  as  the  Flag  of  Peace,  and  has 
ever  since  gloried  in  the  title,  the  First  Flag  to  fly  through- 
out that  vast  domain,  the  same  that  flies  today  save  that 
forty-eight  stars  fill  its  blue  sky,  where  then  but  thirteen 
shone;  the  only  flag  which  has  ever  flown  over  much  of 
this  territory — and  the  only  part  of  the  United  States 
which  can  boast  that  over  it  no  foreign  flag  was  ever 
hoisted.  Does  not  that  spell  Freedom?  "As  it  was  in 


CAMP  LEWIS 


COMMODORE   CHARLES    WILKES,    U.    S.    N. 

From  picture  painted  by  Sully  in  1845,  photographed  especially  for  The  91st, 
the  First  at  Camp  Lewis,  by  order  of  his  daughter,  Miss  Jane  Wilkes,  Original 
signature  also  furnished  by  her. 


6  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

the  beginning,  is  now,  and  ever  shall  be,  world  without 
end.     Amen" 

The  Army  first,  then  the  Navy,  nearly  forty  years 
afterward,  made  early  preparations  for  the  cantonment 
to  be.  Commodore  Charles  Wilkes,  U.  S.  N.,  had  sailed 
the  Seven  Seas.  In  1828  he  began  the  exploration  of 
the  Islands  of  the  Pacific,  years  after  charting  the  Sand- 
wich Islands — now  our  own  Hawaiian  Islands — and  in 
1841  surveyed  the  countless  harbors  which  the  glacier 
had  fashioned  for  Puget  Sound.  The  Commodore  was 
a  many-sided  man.  His  "Narrative"  of  this  expedition 
was  well-named,  for  its  five  huge  volumes,  profusely  illus- 
trated with  steel  engravings,  are  so  delightfully  personal 
that  it  is  like  spending  a  thousand  and  one  nights  before 
an  open  fire  watching  the  flames  dance,  while  your  host 
the  keen  observer  of  myriad  experiences,  tells  you  of 
them,  never  prosy,  forgetting  nothing  of  the  little  things 
you  want  to  know.  His  books,  and  they  were  many,  will 
never  be  old.  From  his  Narrative  was  taken  this  quota- 
tion, which,  in  bronze  upon  a  boulder  of  granite,  com- 
memorates his  landing  at  what  is  now  Point  Defiance 
Park,  Tacoma: 

"Nothing  can  exceed  the  beauty  of  these  waters 
and  their  safety;  not  a  shoal  exists  within  the 
Straits  of  Juan  de  Fuca,  Admiralty  Inlet,  Puget 
Sound  or  Hood's  Canal,  that  can.  in  any  way, 
interrupt  their  navigation  by  a  74-gun  ship.  I 
venture  nothing  in  saying  there  is  no  country 
in  the  world  that  possesses  waters  like  these." 

Yes,  and  the  best  is  none  too  good  for  Camp  Lewis, 
which  slopes  down  five  hundred  feet  to  this  inland  sea, 
as  blue  and  beautiful  as  the  Mediterranean.  It  was 
here  that  Commodore  Wilkes'  expedition  landed  in 
1841  for  the  first  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July, 
West  of  the  Mississippi,  on  the  very  site  in  Camp  Lewis 
where  now  a  monumment  erected  by  the  State  Historical 
Society,  marks  the  spot,  between  Sequalichew  Springs  and 


CAMP   LEWIS 


Courtesy  of  Pacific  Builder  and  Engineer. 

SEQUALICHEW   LAKE   AND   SPRINGS 

American  Lake.  Wilkes  renamed  the  latter  that  day, 
which  was  a  mercy,  for  its  Indian  name  was  Spotsyth, 
and  Sequalichew  is  quite  enough  for  one  such  lovely  place, 
especially  as  American  Lake  was  prophetic.  It  would 
be  fitting  to  gather  about  that  stone  July  5,  1918,  the 
the  second  anniversary  of  the  adoption  of  plans  for  build- 
ing the  cantonment.  Oddly  enough,  Wilkes  celebrated 
the  5th;  the  4th  being  Sunday,  and  the  plans  date  from 
the  5th. 

Of  course,  Old  Glory  was  raised,  and  the  Commodore 
mentions  that  one  of  his  party  saw  an  old  Indian  who 
bore  the  first  flag  to  be  seen  in  the  country.  "Lewis  and 
Clark  presented  an  American  flag  to  the  Cayeuse  tribe 
calling  it  a  flag  of  peace.  This  tribe,  in  alliance  with 
the  Walla  Wallas  had,  up  to  that  time,  been  always  a.' 
war  with  the  Shoshones  or  Snakes.  After  it  became 
known  that  such  a  flag  existed,  a  party  of  Cayeuses  and 
Walla  Wallas  took  the  flag  and  planted  it  at  the  Grande 
Ronde.  The  Result  has  been  that  these  two  tribes  have 
ever  since  been  at  peace  ivith  the  Snakes,  and  all  three 
have  met  annually  in  this  place  to  trade." 

Americans,  how  can  we  be  otherwise  than  proud  of 
our  flag  of  peace,  its  white  never  sullied  by  dragging 
through  the  muck  of  a  market-place,  nor  borne  by  them 


8  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

who  are  whipped  into  battle,  but  dauntlessly  flying 
over  them  who  have  chosen,  staunching  its  defenders' 
blood  with  its  own  broad  stripes,  its  blue  sky  serene  in 
the  faith  that  while  the  stars  shine,  it  shall  float. 

Of  Whitman's  ride,  which  saved  "Oregon,"  as  Paul 
Revere's  ride  did  New  England,  a  continent  away,  there 
is  not  space  to  tell,  only  that  it  preserved  this  cantonment 
to  our  Country  against  The  Hour. 

Then  this  part  of  Oregon  became  Washington  Territory, 
and  President  Lincoln  sent  Isaac  Stevens  as  its  first 
governor,  who  made  treaties  with  the  Indians  in  1855, 
since  which  time,  unbroken  peace.  Young  Hazard  Stevens 
came  with  his  father  from  Boston  to  Olympia,  just  beyond. 
Commodore  Wilkes  had  written:  "The  ascent  of  these 
mountains  has  never  been  effected,  but  it  was  my  inten- 
tion to  attempt  it  if  my  other  duties  had  permitted." 
It  was  young  Hazard  Stevens  who,  with  one  companion, 
P.  B.  Van  Trompe,  performed  the  hazardous  feat  in  1870. 
Accompanied  by  all  the  young  people  of  Olympia,  who 
crossed  this  cantonment,  for  an  all-day  picnic,  to  see  them 
off,  they  reached  the  top  of  Mount  Tacoma,  the  first  to 
break  the  solitude  of  its  eternal  snows,  to  wave  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  into  the  blue  itself,  to  gaze  down  upon 
the  Pacific  and  five  States-to-be,  from  its  solemn  viewpoint. 
From  yet  a  higher  vantage,  Van  Trompe  looks  down 
today,  but  General  Hazard  Stevens,  his  stars  won  in 
the  Civil  War,  is  now  living  in  Olympia,  just  beyond 
Camp  Lewis. 

Washington,  along  now,  is  a  state.  Its  militia  have 
discovered  the  ideal  spot  for  annual  encampments; 
regulars  follow.  For  twenty  years  it  had  been  talked  of 
and  reported  upon  for  government  needs,  Generals  Murray 
and  Funston  being  of  many  who  had  recommended 
the  site,  but  there  seemed  to  be  no  need  for  hurry. 
Suddenly  there  was  need  for  hurry.  Europe  was  at 
war,  and  this  country  was  drawn  into  the  maelstrom  in 
that  ocean  which  had  seemed  to  isolate  it.  Men  there 
were  who  realized  that  the  place  had  been  prepared  for 
just  that  contingency  when  this  coast  was  drawn,  and 


CAMP   LEWIS  9 

that  a  star  had  been  set  directly  above  the  shore  of 
American  Lake.  Foremost  among  these  was  Stephen 
Appleby  of  Tacoma.  "The  old  men  shall  dream  dreams," 
but  'tis  "the  young  men  who  see  visions."  Appleby  saw 
that  cantonment  while  it  was  still  in  the  air  and  deter- 
mined to  bring  it  to  earth.  So,  though  there  were  many 
others,  so  many  that  it  hardly  seems  fair  to  mention 
but  one,  his  name  is  set  here,  in  glorious  company,  because 
he  not  only  saw  the  vision  but  made  his  dream  come 
true. 


MAJOR  GENERAL  J.  FRANKLIN  BELL,  U.  S.  A. 

Maj.  Gen.  Bell  is  the  next  man  whose  name  must  go 
down  upon  the  Honor  Roll  of  them  who,  having  seen  the 
vision,  visualized  it  for  the  blind.  Second  only  in  com- 
mand of  the  entire  army  of  the  Unitrd  States,  General 
Bell's  word  would  have  great  weight  officially,  but  the 
man  himself  is  highly  magnetic.  He  is  more  than  a 
convincing  and  entertaining  speaker,  he  is  a  real  orator. 
At  a  mass  meeting,  which  packed  the  Tacoma  Theater, 
he  was  not  allowed  to  end  his  address  for  hours,  so 
insistent  were  demands  for  more.  Gen.  Bell  delivered 
several  addresses  to  large  audiences,  insisting  upon  the 


10  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

imminence  of  war  and  our  unpreparedness.  He  promised 
recommendation  for  a  Division,  rather  than  a  Brigade 
establishment,  should  the  lands  be  donated. 

Then  the  volunteer  committee,  Stephen  Appleby,  Frank 
S.  Baker  and  Jesse  0.  Thomas,  went  to  the  Capital.    Now, 


FRANK   S.    BAKER 

from  Washington  to  Washington  is  even  a  greater  distance 
politically  than  physically,  and  had  these  three 
determined  men  not  been  furthered  by  a  state  of  deter- 
mination, they  could  not  have  traveled  it  ,though  they 
came  bearing  gifts.  In  fact,  Gen.  Hugh  Scott,  Chief  of 
Staff,  asserted  that  the  War  Department  could  not  ac- 
cept gifts,  there  was  no  precedent.  But  the  West  does 


CAMP   LEWIS  11 

its  own  preceding,  always  has  done.  General  Bell  was  in 
Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  and  familiar  with  the 
advantages  of  that  Washington  district  in  which  Columbia 
was  invited  to  house  the  army  which  was  rushing  to  her 
defense,  he  proved  a  friend  at  court.  Maj.  Gen.  Crowder, 
Judge  Advocate  General,  true  to  his  name,  pressed  to 
the  fore  with  the  opinion  that  the  lands  might  be  accepted 
without  special  act  of  Congress.  Next  day  the  committee 
was  received  by  Secretary  of  War,  Newton  D.  Baker, 
after  an  interview  with  Elbert  H.  Baker,  of  Cleveland, 
father  of  Frank  S.  Baker.  No,  it  was  not  cooked  up 
then,  despite  the  three  bakers,  they  only  served.  Dame 
Nature  did  the  baking  and  laid  the  cake  away  in  cold 
storage,  to  be  cut  ages  hence. 

A  month  later,  came  a  letter  to  Chairman  Appleby 
from  the  Secretary  of  War: 

"Acquisition  by  Pierce  County  by  purchase  or 
condemnation  *  *  *  site  for  division  cantonment 
and  mobilization  and  training  camp  for  Puget 
Sound  area  *  *  *  108.2  square  miles,  70,000 
acres  *  *  *  if  Pierce  County  tenders  a  deed 
conveying  *  *  *  for  purpose  of  maintaining 
thereon  a  permanent  mobilization,  training,  and 
supply  station  *  *  *  if  the  United  States  should 
ever  cease  to  maintain  said  tract  for,  etc.  *  *  * 
title  to  lands  so  donated  will  revert  to  the  County 
of  Pierce  *  *  *  you  are  further  advised  that 
as  soon  as  and  as  long  as  the  appropriations 
made  by  Congress  and  the  military  demands 
upon  the  mobile  forces  of  the  United  States  permit, 
I  will  establish  and  maintain  upon  said  reservation 
a  division  of  mobile  troops  with  such  improvements 
as  are  provided  for  in  said  appropriation." 

This  was  the  gist  of  it.  The  letter  itself,  unique  in 
the  archives  of  the  War  Department  as  an  acceptance 
of  the  First  Gift  of  its  kind  to  the  Federal  Government, 
has  been  presented  to  the  State  Historical  Society  and 
placed  in  its  museum  in  Tacoma. 


12  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Secrets  will  leak  out:  never  mind  who  betrayed  this 
one.  When  Mr.  Appleby  opened  a  certain  letter,  Decem- 
ber 2,  1916,  he  leaped  to  his  feet  holding  aloft  something 
in  the  nature  of  a  scalp  and  began,  to  the  consternation 
of  the  force,  to  execute  a  war-dance,  solo,  joined  shortly 
by  the  other  committee  braves,  seemingly  under  orders 
extraordinary  from  the  War  Department,  as  the  scrap 
of  paper  which  passed  from  hand  to  hand  bore  that  seal. 
Then  the  mayor  joined  the  pow-wow.  Two  days  later 
a  large  number  of  chiefs  of  the  Tacoma  tribe  were 
gathered  for  council  and  the  campaign  started.  In  other 
words,  following  the  mayor's  proclamation  of  the  news, 
150  business  men  presented  a  petition  to  the  Board  of 
County  Commissioners,  asking  them  to  call  a  special 
election  to  authorize  the  issuance  of  $2,000,000  in  bonds, 
for  purchasing  the  American  Lake  site  for  a  cantonment. 
This  was  done  and  set  for  January  6,  1917.  Only  a  month 
in  which  to  bring  to  Pierce  County  citizens'  attention, 
the  importance  to  the  Country,  their  State,  and  their 
locality,  of  the  proposed  cantonment.  Everybody  talked: 
the  entire  county  buzzed  like  a  giant  bee-hive.  Men 
and  women  volunteered  for  service  and  worked  without 
pay  at  the  polls.  Never  was  such  an  election  anywhere, 
and  of  the  29,194  votes  cast,  25,049  showed  a  good  heavy 
X  over  the  YES. 

But  there  were  entanglements.  J.  T.  S.  Lyle,  former 
Assistant  Attorney-General  of  the  State,  is  the  man  who 
untied  the  knots  and  rolled  the  red  tape  into  a  hard 
ball  which  should  be  fired  from  one  of  the  big  guns 
on  the  Fourth.  Employed  by  the  County,  he  went  to 
Washington  to  consult  the  powers  that  be,  and  directed 
the  legal  battle.  When  the  bonds  had  boen  voted,  many 
lawyers  thought  the  proceedings  open  to  question.  Law- 
yers are  strong  for  precedent,  so  Mr.  Lyle  proceeded 
to  establish  a  precedent.  Assisted  by  four  lawyers  from 
as  many  cities,  he  drew  up  a  bill  to  be  presented  to 
the  legislature  at  Olympia.  This  was  immediately  and 
unanimously  passed.  Even  then  a  suit  was  instituted 
against  the  State  Board  that  decision  by  the  Supreme 
Court  should  answer  any  question  that  might  arise. 


CAMP   LEWIS  13 

You  might  consistently  think  it  was  now  clear  sailing: 
money  appropriated,  validity  established,  and  Lyle  put  in 
charge  of  appraising  and  purchasing  said  lands.  Not 
so.  Just  as  the  force  was  good  and  ready,  the  war-cloud 
burst  over  the  United  States  and  there  just  had  to  be  a 
place  to  go  in  out  of  the  rain.  The  War  Department 
asked  that  enough  should  be  immediately  given  over  to 
provide  a  50,000-man  cantonment.  Columbia  has  always 
been  an  improvident  housekeeper,  or  rather,  never  "fore- 
handed." Pro-German?  We  have  fought  in  every  war  in  this 
Country  since  Walter  Palmer  opposed  his  six-foot-seven 
body  to  the  Indians.  The  Mayflower  being  over-crowded  by 
the  thousands  who  crossed  in  her  first  voyage,  he  took  the 
next  ship.  There  was  a  Palmer  with  Washington  at 
Valley  Forge;  the  Herkimers,  Van  Rensaellers  and  the 
rest  of  them  officered  in  the  Revolution.  Commodore 
Perry  in  1812,  General  Grant  and  other  such  Pro-Ger- 
mans are  of  my  blood,  rather  I  of  theirs.  Frederick 
Palmer,  war  correspondent,  is  the  only  one  who  has  fired 
"The  Last  Shot." 

It  was  April,  Lyle  had  6,000  acres  secured,  upon 
which  contractors  might  build  to  celebrate  the  4th  of 
July,  1917,  and  not  a  penny's  outlay  except  for  crops 
loss,  for  a  promise  had  been  made  that  the  value  of 
every  parcel  of  land  condemned  should  be  assessed  by 
a  jury.  Attorney  Lyle  was  not  dining  out  those  days, 
nor,  indeed,  did  he  sometimes  dine  in.  In  fact,  the  first 
idler  to  have  the  slightest  connection  with  Camp  Lewis 
since  Captain  Lewis  came  over  to  make  preliminary 
arrangements,  has  not,  to  this  day,  been  located.  For 
three  months  a  score  of  expert  appraisers  did  their  work 
so  thoroughly  and  well  and  rapidly,  that  discrepancies 
in  the  amounts  finally  allowed  were  inconsiderable. 

Done,  ybu  sigh;  again,  not  so.  That  was  July  5, 
1917.  Uncle  Sam  was  delighted  with  his  estate,  thought 
it  could  not  be  bettered.  Springs  he  had,  a  beautiful 
lake  for  yachting,  but  why  had  he  not  secured  tidewater 
frontage?  So  the  War  Department,  Uncle  Sam's  Chief  - 
of-Staff  proffered  another  request,  and  aid-de-camps 


14  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Pierce  Commissioners  condemned  3,500  acres,  all  of  the 
Nisqually  Indian  Reservation,  very  rich  lands,  and  Camp 
Lewis  may  now  "go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships,"  may 
build  its  own  warehouses  and  docks,  and  perhaps,  who 
knows?  its  own  shipyards.  No  other  cantonment  in 
the  country,  in  the  world,  equals  Camp  Lewis  in  size, 
advantages,  situation,  or  beauty. 

This  all  then,  is  the"0ne  to  Make  Ready."..  Let  us 
catch  our  breath  after  this  rush  and  give  three  cheers 
for — Ladies  first — Dames  Nature  and  Columbia,  Captain 
Lewis,  Commodore  Wilkes;  Appleby,  Baker  and  Thomas; 
Major-General  J.  Franklin  Bell;  Attorney  Lyle,  and 
Pierce  County  citizens — Hip,  Hip,  Hurrah  and  a  Tiger 
for  the  Committees,  and, — and  Everybody! 


CAMP   LEWIS  15 


CHAPTER  II.  TO  SHOW 

CAPT.  EHRNBECK  NOT  THE  FIRST  TOPOGRAPHER — CAPT. 
DAVID  STONE — ROBERTS  AND  GODFREY  AND  HURLEY- 
MASON  AND  NEHEMIAH — THE  FIRST  CANTONMENT 

Everything  we  call  Real  was  born  Ideal.  So  the  city 
which  is  now  Camp  Lewis  rose  behind  the  eyes  of  several 
men,  differing  in  each  according  to  his  angle  of  vision. 
Of  them  who  follow  the  Dreamers,  first  of  the  Doers 
is  the  Engineer.  "And  there  was  given  me  a  reed  like 
unto  a  rod  *  *  *  Rise  and  measure." 

It  is  generally  supposed  that  Captain,  now  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Arthur  B.  Ehrnbeck,  U.  S.  A.  Engineer  Corps, 
was  the  first  to  map  that  site,  but  recall,  it  was  Captain, 
afterward  Commodore,  Wilkes,  U.  S.  N.,  sixty-seven 
years  before.  However,  on  April  3,  1917,  Capt.  Ehrnbeck 
and  Lieutenants  Scott,  Gross  and  Bonfils  arrived.  They 
surveyed  two  proposed  sites  on  opposite  sides  of  American 
Lake.  The  Southern  was  selected. 

General  plans  for  all  the  cantonments  were  sent  from 
Washington  and  must  be  adapted  to  the  camp.  These 
patterns  had  to  be  laid  upon  the  table-land,  fitted  and 
cut  to  the  best  advantage.  Literally,  this  was  done, 
Projecting  a  survey  upon  a  topographical  map,  bits  of 
paper,  cut  to  scale,  were  shaped  to  represent  Brigade 
groups,  Infantry,  Artillery,  etc.,  then  pinned  cm  as  pat- 
terns, till  the  material  had  been  best  utilized,  a  strip  two 
and  a  half  miles  long  by  a  mile  wide.  To  the  North  and 
South  lie  low  hills  and  the  camp  follows  them  on  both 
sides  from  a  rounded  end  near  the  station,  formerly  Du- 
pont,  now  American  Lake,  seventeen  and  a  half  miles 
from  Tacoma.  From  this  U  end,  the  cantonment  branches 
in  a  mammoth  wishbone,  its  ends  properly  turned  a  little 
back.  Should  the  Germans  pick  this  bone  with  us,  we 


16 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


shall  surely  get  the  long  end.  It  encloses  a  magnificent 
parade  ground,  level  as  a  floor,  bare  of  trees  save  for  the 
stately  firs  which  picket  its  limits.  Snow-clad  Mount  Ta- 
coma  guards  its  Eastern  horizon  and  American  Lake 
bounds  its  West. 


LIEUT.   COL.   A.   R.   EHRNBECK 

Upon  Capt.  Ehrnbeck's  map  appeared  the  wards  of 
his  city,  and  a  white  flag  marked  the  limits  of  every 
military  unit.  A  railway  and  two  roads  followed  the 
curve  of  the  Wishbone,  and  two  parties  of  engineers 
now  worked  upon  each  side.  Roads  and  streets  were 
defined  and  building  groups  so  skillfully  computed  that 
as  the  workmen  dogged  their  steps,  for  construction 
began  July  5,  structures  rose  from  the  ground  exactly 
where  they  were  pinned  to  the  map.  Had  the  engineers 
hesitated  in  that  Titan  game  of  checkers,  they  would 
have  been  swept  from  the  board  by  the  carpenters. 

May  26  came.  Capt.  David  L.  Stone,  whose  accom- 
plishment in  building  more  than  seventeen  miles  from  the 
nearest  city,  the  furthest  of  all  cantonments  from  bases 
of  supply  for  everything  except  lumber,  a  city  of  1,757 
buildings  and  422  other  structures,  lighted,  heated,  for 
50,000  men,  in  ninety  days,  is  little  short  of  miraculous. 


CAMP   LEWIS 


17 


LIEUT.  COL.  DAVID  L.   STONE 

But  then  he  has  always  been  rushed,  since  the  days 
when  he  was  graduated  from  West  Point  three  months 
ahead  of  time  to  fight  in  the  Spanish-American  war. 
In  at  the  capture  of  Santiago,  he  was  in  plenty  of  time  for 
§  3 


18  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

the  Philippine  war.  For  nearly  three  years  he  managed 
to  keep  busy  in  one  expedition  after  another,  when  he 
became  commander  of  Cabiao,  town  and  district.  Organiz- 
ing American  methods  of  government  and  sanitation, 
and  starting  schools  filled  the  days  and  he  often  did 
his  sleeping  hunting  bandits.  He  returned  to  the  States 
for  a  short  nap,  but  was  sent  back,  to  the  Moros.  Home 
again,  with  a  wound.  Twelve  years  ago  he  left  destructive 
for  constructive  work  in  the  Army.  These  are  a  few 
of  the  things  that  have  trained  the  young  Kentuckian — 
he  is  only  forty  now — for  the  huge  work  ahead :  rebuilding 
Fort  Omaha,  constructing  a  reinforced  concrete  post 
at  Fort  Sill,  Oklahoma,  and  taking  charge  of  work  in 
the  Hawaiian  department  such  as  building  Forts  Kame- 
hameha  and  de  Russey,  finishing  Forts  Shafter  and  Ruger, 
not  to  mention  Scofield  Barracks,  near  Honolulu,  with 
its  water  system  of  nine  dams,  eighteen  tunnels  and 
five  miles  of  concrete  ditches.  People  don't  just  happen. 
So  when  Gen.  Bell  wanted  a  possible  man  for  an  impos- 
sible job,  he  just  naturally  thought  of  Capt.  Stone,  and 
rung  him  up.  He  was  made  Major,  then  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  while  at  Camp  Lewis. 

Big  boys  play  follow  the  leader.  Workmen  recognized 
a  master  workman.  Labor  troubles  looked  petty  when, 
in  a  uniform  resembling  butternut  jeans,  a  man  keeps 
at  it  for  his  country,  and  theirs.  It  seemed  stupid,  not 
to  say  disloyal,  to  recognize  divided  labor.  All  was  Union 
labor.  So,  though  the  whole  country  was  pestered  with 
propaganda  strikes,  none  were  serious  at  Camp  Lewis, 
though  5,000  workers  increased  to  10,000  from  five  cities. 
At  a  banquet  tendered  him  before  leaving  for  Camp 
Dix,  Col.  Stone  blamed  the  whole  thing  upon  everybody 
but  himself. 

"The  splendid  work  of  the  contractors,  Hurley- 
Mason  Co.  and  associates,  the  fine  government 
staff,  all  trades  members,  waiving  conditions  and 
rules  under  which  they  ordinarily  work,  to  help 
their  government  in  time  of  need,  united  business 


CAMP   LEWIS  19 

men,  a  spirit  of  patriotism  throughout  Tacoma 
and  Pierce  County  permeating  every  man  and 
woman." 

Of,  course,  you  see  plainly  that  Stone  had  little,  if 
anything,  to  do  with  it.  However,  Goliath,  Defier,  was 
killed  by  somebody  and  suspicion  points  persistently 
towards  this  Stone  slung  by  David.  He  was  was  there, 
and  heaven  knows  there's  a  stone  to  your  hand  anywhere 
in  Camp  Lewis. 

The  best  is  none  too  good  for  ours,  so  Tacoma  con- 
tributed an  engineer  to  work  out  railroad  facilities  for 
immediate  handling  of  many  men  and  vast  supplies. 
W.  J.  Roberts,  foreseeing  war,  had  offered  his  services 
to  the  government  through  his  Alma  Mater,  the  Massa- 
chusetts Institute  of  Technology.  He  was  ordered  to 
consult  with  Capt.  Stone  who  seized  upon  his  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  locality  and  site.  Then  he  became 
engineer  for  water  and  sewers.  The  exceptional  health 
of  Camp  Lewis  troops  is  largely  due  to  Mr.  Roberts. 
All  inspectors  rate  the  systems  far  beyond  those  of  any 
other  cantonment.  We  took  Roberts  at  the  flood,  where 
he  was  chief  engineer  of  the  Inter-County  Improvement 
Association,  which  is  handling  millions  to  keep  the  White 
and  Stuck  Rivers  stuck,  so  to  speak,  preventing  disastrous 
annual  floods.  Forty-two  cities  and  towns  in  United 
States  sent  for  Roberts  for  water  projects.  He's  a  member 
of  all  the  societies  that  be.  Intensive  training!  We  had 
its  benefits  everywhere  at  Camp  Lewis.  Water  came  down 
from  the  mountains  to  reappear  in  the  sparkling  lake  and 
springs  of  Lake  Sequalichew  and  was  piped  into  every 
building. 

Almost  as  if  following  a  second  command,  "Let  there 
be  light,"  "There  was  light,"  light  and  the  power  of 
light,  a  strongly  suggestive  connection.  F.  H.  Godfrey, 
electrical  engineer,  a  lineal  descendant  of  Aladdin,  of 
lamps-new-and-old  fame,  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  work 
of  lighting  an  entire  city,  inside  and  outside,  in  ninety 
days,  and  he  did  it,  Capt.  Stone  had  picked  another  winner. 
In  neither  sense  is  our  army  kept,  like  the  Germans, 


20 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CAMP  LEWIS  21 

in  the  dark.  Brilliantly  lighted  buildings  have  done 
much  to  dissipate  gloomy  spirits  and  so  actually  conduce 
to  the  morale  of  the  soldiers. 

It  was  as  if  every  building  was  struck  by  lightning 
before  completion,  for,  ere  carpenters  had  closed  in  the 
end  of  a  structure,  the  wires  were  threading  it  from  the 
other,  stringing  the  dazzling  beads  of  light. 

Oh,  it's  all  like  a  Giant's  fairy  story.  H\*ge  firs  were 
felled  and  ere  the  last  breath  had  sighed  from  their 
boughs,  they  were  thrust  into  the  sawmills,  ten,  built 
along  both  sides  of  the  cantonment,  sawmills  which 
buzzed  and  whizzed,  and  shook  the  sawdust  perspiration 
from  them  as  they  hurried  on,  day  and  night,  cutting 
to  dimensions  till  they  shrieked  from  sheer  nervousness. 
Flat  cars  spurred  up  with  the  lumber,  motor  trucks 
carried  it,  marked,  to  the  spots  the  paper  bits  indicated, 
and  the  last  engineer  to  leave  the  spot  was  struck  in 
the  heel  by  a  board.  A  swarm  of  workmen  descended 
upon  the  lumber  and  ascended  upon  the  building  as  it 
rose.  Literally  true,  "We  build  the  ladder  by  which 
we  rise  and  we  mount  to  its  summit  round  by  round." 
Think  of  barracks,  housing  two  hundred  and  fifty  men 
erected  in  fifty  minutes!  That  was  actually  done.  It 
is  quite  true  that  workmen  lost  their  way  back  to  their 
quarters  at  night,  so  many  buildings  having  sprung  up 
during  the  day  that  landmarks  had  changed.  The  plumb- 
ers piped  the  bare  body  of  the  barracks  and  circulation 
began,  while  the  electricians  put  in  its  nervous  system. 
Wind-eyes  shone  in  its  face.  Door-lips  closed  over  mouth, 
and  the  magicians  rushed  on. 

Once  a  week,  progress  was  photographed  and  prints 
mailed  to  Uncle  Sam  who  couldn't  believe  his  own  eyes. 

All  barracks  are  identical:  hall  through  the  middle, 
door  back  and  front,  half  the  length  mess  room  and 
kitchen  upon  the  end,  other  side  sleeping  quarters,  and 
dormitory  over  all;  stove-heated.  Behind  and  between 
the  barracks  facing  the  next  avenue,  are  a  laboratory 
and  shower  bath,  equipped  with  the  best  of  everything, 
and  a  drying  house  for  clothes.  Avenues  are  named 


22 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


for  the  States  contributing  to  the  camp  draft,  cross- 
streets  are  numbered,  and  so  are  barracks. 

Each  Brigade  has  its  General's  headquarters  and 
Brigade  flag  over-flying  at  the  Parade  edge;  then  the 
general  headquarters  for  each  regiment,  officers'  quarters 
heated  by  steam,  assembly  hall  for  the  men,  an  infirmary, 
a  machine  gun  and  supply  company  and  a  post  exchange. 

Camp  Lewis  was  the  First  Completed  of  all  the  can- 


CHARLES  B.  HURLEY 

tonments.  The  constructing  contract  was  signed  June 
14,  the  building  plan  handed  over  July  5,  and  recruits 
entered  the  barracks  September  5.  It  cost  $7,000,723.52 
and  is  the  only  cantonment  built  for  the  estimated  $158 
per  capita,  an  enduring  honor  to  Hurley-Mason,  since 
other  cantonments  averaged  $220,  some  costing  double 
the  estimate.  The  cantonment  could  not  have  built  at  that 
cost  nor  in  that  time,  had  they  not  built  themselves  into 
their  work  in  the  spirit  of  America.  As  stated,  everything 
but  lumber  was  brought  from  a  distance — except  Patrio- 


CAMP  LEWIS  23 

tism.  That  was  an  integral  material  in  every  structure, 
and  in  every  part,  "from  turret  to  foundation  stone." 
Though  shy  on  turrets,  all  agree  foundation  stone  is 
there  with  both  feet,  was  the  classic  wording  of  a  college 
boy. 

Camp  Lewis  is  by  far  the  largest  of  all  the  cantonments, 
over  108  square  miles,  has  the  greatest  parade  ground, 
and  variety  of  terrain  to  suit  every  requirement,  rolling 
ground  and  flat,  dense  forests  and  lush  pasturage,  fresh 
water  lakes,  brooks  and  sea  front. 


LIBERTY  GATE 

You  may  not  like  Puget  Sound  Winters,  but  you 
cannot  help  respecting  them.  Even  as  bad  a  specimen 
as  the  camp's  first,  showed  the  lowest  thermometer  9° 
above,  while  Camp  Travis,  1200  miles  South,  dropped  to 
4°  above  zero — the  Japan  current,  you  know.  Beside, 
the  climate  is  all  but  exactly  that  of  France,  where  the 
troops  are  to  fight,  so  they  ara  being  acclimatized  in 
their  training.  Trench  mud,  too,  will  be  an  old  friend 
— or  at  least,  acquaintance. 

Yes,  Camp  Lewis  stands  alone,  in  every  way.  If  the 
country,  not  counting  Alaska,  were  halved,  fifteen  canton- 
ments would  be  on  its  Eastern  side  and  only  one,  Camp 
Lewis,  on  the  West,  1800  miles  from  the  nearest  one, 
Camp  Funston,  Kansas. 

Camp  Lewis  has  handled  the  largest  mail  and  most 
economically,  in  fact,  every  inspector,  every  comparative 


24 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


writer,  every  foreign  officer  has  awarded  palm  in  every 
particular  to  this  cantonment.  So  everybody  who  has  had 
the  least  thing  to  do  with  the  building  of  it  is  justly 
proud,  and  those  who  labored  with  their  lands  to  create 
it,  gladly  subscribed  $4,000  for  Liberty  Gate,  which  spans 
the  road  to  Divisional  Headquarters,  a  road  which  is  to 
be  bordered  by  trees.  The  arch  is  built  of  field  stones 
below  and  squared  logs  above,  resembling  the  old  block 
houses  which  stood  in  this  Northwest  as  forts  against 
the  Indians,  and  connected  by  a  gallery  pierced  for  rifles. 
Foot  passengers  enter  through  "sentry  boxes."  Some  of 
the  cantonments  present  illiberal  objects  lessons  of  grab- 
bing, Camp  Lewis,  one  of  giving.  It  is  truly  American, 
"of  the  People,  by  the  People,  and  for  the  People."  Upon 
its  front  a  copper  tablet  bears  this  unique  inscription: 


PRESENTED  TO  THE 

UNITED    STATES    GOVERNMENT 

BY   THE  WORKINGMEN    WHO   BUILT 
THE    CANTONMENT 

NOVEMBER,   1917 


One  man  stands  alone,  pre-eminent  in  universal  ex- 
perience, so  that  countless  writers  have  "proved"  Shake- 
speare to  be  lawyer,  physican,  courtier,  on  through  the 
list.  One  Book  there  is  wherein  every  man  may  find  his 
prototype,  and  instruction  along  his  own  line.  Wonder 
if  Stone  "consulted  with"  Nehemiah?  It  certainly  looks 
like  it,  but  there  is  glory  enough  for  both  and  for  all. 
Long,  Long  ago  another  people  found  themselves  naked 
to  their  enemies.  Rose  then  another  man  to  the  occasion. 
The  parallel  is  extraordinarily  interesting,  let  Nehemiah 
tell  you  just  how  he  did  it: 

Nahemiah    volunteers:      "//   thy   servant   have 
found  favor,  that  thou  wouldst  send  me     *     *     * 


CAMP  LEWIS  25 

that  I  may  build  it"  *  *  *  "So  it  pleased  the 
king  to  send  me  and  I  set  him  a  time."  He  asks 
for  passes :  "Let  letters  be  given  me  to  the  govern- 
ors beyond  the  river  that  they  may  convey  me"  and 
also  for  a  requisition  upon  "Asaph,  the  keeper  of 
the  forest,  that  he  may  give  me  timber  to  make 
beams,  etc."  Accompanied  by  his  staff  and  Aids, 
Nehemiah  presented  his  credentials:  "I  came  to 
the  governors  *  *  *  and  gave  them  the  king's 
letters"  *  *  *  (who)  "had  sent  captains  of  the 
army  and  horsemen  with  me." 

The  great  project  within  his  single  brain  prevent- 
ing sleep,  "I  arose  in  the  night.  *  *  *  neither  told 
I  any  man  ivhat  my  God  had  put  info  my  heart,"  and  he 
made  a  careful  reconnaissance,  riding  along  alone  in  the 
moonlight,  only  his  dream  for  company,  from  one  place 
to  another  rode  he,  thinking,  planning.  Water  first,  of 
course, 

"7  went  on  to  the  gate  of  the  fountain  *  *  * 
to  the  pool  *  *  *  then  in  the  night  went  I  up 
by  the  brook  *  *  *  and  turned,  back,  and  en- 
tered by  the  *  *  *  valley,  and  returned." 

Like  every  leader,  he  kept  preliminary  plans  to  him- 
self till  matured:  "The  rulers  knew  not  whither  I  went 
nor  what  I  did  *  *  *  neither  had  I  as  yet  told  it 
to  *  *  *  the  nobles  (the  head  contractors)  nor  to  the 
rest  that  did  the  work."  Having  made  his  survey,  how- 
ever, and  settled  the  water  question,  he  said,  "Come, 
let  us  build  up  *  *  *  Jerusalem,  that  we  be  no  more 
a  reproach" — and  we,  too,  had  become  a  reproach  among 
nations  in  that  we  tarried  so  long.  Evidently,  Nehemiah 
had  the  later  leader's  power  of  transmitting  enthusiasm, 
— "And  they  said,  'Let  us  rise  up  and  build.\  So  they 
strengthened  their  hands  for  this  good  ivork" 

Now  Nehemiah  and  Stone  both  were  limited  as  to 
time,  so  they  pursued  identical  tactics,  dividing  their  men 


26  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

into  working  parties,  one  "at  the  furnace  tower,"  our 
heat  and  power  plant,  another  "against  the  going  up  to 
the  armory,  ordnance  supply  quarters,  a  third  upon  bar- 
racks of  Eliashit  "from  the  door  of  the  house  even  to 

the  end  of  the  house  of  E ,"  you  see,  they  put  that 

up  all  at  the  same  time,  too — "from,  above  the  horse  gate," 
or  Remount  Station,  "everyone  over  against  his  house 
*  *  *  and  to  the  going  up  of  the  corner  against  the 
gate,"  which  Nehemiah  called  Miphkad,  and  we,  Liberty. 

Finally,  both  leaders  could  triumphantly  announce, 
"So  we  built  the  wall,  and  all  the  wall  was  joined  together 
unto  the  half  therefore:  (both  cantonments  being  built 
from  ends  toward)  "for  the  people  had  a  mind  to  ivork." 
Both  Nehemiah  and  Stone  were  unstinted  in  their  com- 
mendation of  their  workmen,  who  evidently  only  followed 
their  examples,  for  "Neither  I,  nor  my  brethren,  nor 
my  servants,  nor  the  men  of  the  guard  which  followed 
me,  none  of  us  put  off  our  clothes,  saving  that  everyone 
put  them  off  for  washing." 

There  was  the  same  trouble  with  high  taxes  and 
complaints:  "We  have  mortgaged  our  lands,  vineyards 
and  houses,  that  we  might  buy  corn  because  of  the  dearth 
(cornmeal  is  an  ancient  standby,  it  seems,  and  the  people 
didn't  really  like  it  then  any  better  than  they  do  now. 
"There  were  also  that  said,  We  have  borrowed  money 
for  the  king's  tribute  and  that  upon  our  lands  and 
vineyards."  There  was  the  same  contemptible  profit- 
eering— human  nature,  from  the  Olden  Jews  to  the  modern 
packers.  They  have  waxed  so  great  that  they  think  them- 
selves among  the  nobles  over  whom  Nehemiah  grew 
"very  angry"  *  *  *  "and.  I  set  a  great  assembly 
against  them  (even  Congress)  "and  I  said,  Ye  exact 
usury,  everyone  of  his  brother  *  *  *  Will  ye  even 
sell  your  brethren?"  You  see,  "the  reproach  of  the 
heathen  our  enemies"  was  quite  rightly  that  brought 
against  our  ignoble  nobles  by  the  heathen  Hun,  that 
we  were  Dollar  Worshipers.  So  the  income  tax  was 
instituted.  "Restore  *  *  *  the  hundredth  part  of 
the  money,  and  of  the  corn,  etc."  They  said  they  would, 


CAMP  LEWIS  27 

but,  with  experience  old  in  that  olden  time,  he  "took  an 
oath  of  them  that  they  should  do  according  to  this  pro- 
mise." Even  then  he  knew  they  would  bear  watching. 
"Al&o  I  shook  my  lap  and  said,  So  God  shake  out  every 
man  from  his  house  and  from  his  labor,  that  performeth 
not  this  promise."  Do  you  suppose  he  did?  If  so,  well, 
we  should  have  many  palatial  homes  vacant  and  many 
great  lumber  and  packing  and  other  corporations'  labors 
ended  if  we  shook  out  the  oath-breaking  profiteers. 

Read  along,  is  it  not  a  curious  coincidence?  "I  con- 
tinued in  the  w\ork,  neither  bought  we  any  land  (remem- 
ber, the  building  of  Camp  Lewis  went  on  before  any  of 
the  land  was  paid  for,  and  it  was  a  gift)  '"Moreover, 
there  were  at  my  table  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  Jews 
and  rulers,  (staff  and  contractors)  beside  those  that  came 
from  *  *  *  about  us," — several  cities  sent  workmen. 
The  commissary  department  increased  amazingly  and  was 
a  work  in  itself.  Pink  teas  were  out  of  the  question, 
both  to  Nehemiah's  staff  and  Stone's  They  were  oft 
invited.  "/  sent  messengers  unto  them  saying,  I  am 
doing  a  great  work  so  that  I  cannot  come  down,  why 
should  the  work  cease  whilst  I  leave  it,  and  come  down  to 
yiou?  Yet,  they  sent  unto  me  four  times  after  this  sort; 
and  I  answered  them  after  the  same  manner."  Society 
people  have  always  found  it  impossible  to  understand 
that  a  great  work  is  more  fascinating  than  themselves. 

There  were  I.  W.  W.'s  also,  a  perpetual  nuisance, 
"For  Tobiah  and  Sandballat  had  hired  him,  that  I  should 
do  so  *  *  *  and  that  they  might  have  matters  for 
an  evil  report."  Nehemiah  had  German  propaganda  to 
contend  against,  as  his  adjutant,  one  Ezra,  reports:  "Then 
the  people  of  the  land  weakened  the  hands  *  *  *  and 
troubled  him  in  building,  and  hired  counsellors  against 
them  to  prostrate  their  purpose,  all  the  days  of" — for 
"Cyrus,  king  of  Persia,"  read  Wilhelm,  Kaiser  of  Germany. 

But  in  spite  of  all  these  drawbacks,  Camp  Lewis  was 
finished  in  sixty  days  and  Nehemiah  beat  that  record  by 
eight,  though  his  was  probably  a  smaller  job.  "So  the 
wall  was  finished  in  fifty-two  days."  The  effect  upon 


28  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

the  heathen  of  his  time  was  exactly  that  upon  the  heathen 
Huns  of  our,  "And  it  came  to  pass  that  ivhen  our  ene- 
mies heard  therefore,  and  all  the  heathen  that  were  round 
about  us  (the  Pro-Germans)  saw  these  things,  they  were 
much  cast  down  in  their  own  eyes."  Even  Politics  con- 
spired, "Moreover,  in  those  days,  the  nobles  *  *  * 
sent  many  letters  unto  Tobiah,  and  the  letters  of  Tobiah 
came  unto  them,  for  there  were  many  sworn  unto  him, 
because  he  was  the  son-in-law  of  S ." 

There  is  one  striking  difference,  however,  in  Nehemiah 
&  Co.  and  Stone  &  Co.  The  latter  were  invariably  modest, 
letting  their  work  speak  for  them,  and  asking  nothing, 
though  all  were  bid  to  come  up  higher.  But  Nehemiah 
is  exultingly  calling  upon  his  Superior  to  remember  his 
good  works,  to  contrast  them  with  the  poor  jobs  of  the 
other  fellow,  and  to  reward  him  accordingly  with  pro- 
motion or  decoration,  or  both.  Nehemiah  lives  near  us. 

But,  to  return  to  Camp  Lewis:  It  was  One  to  make 
Ready,  now  Two  to  Show.  These  have  shown.  So,  again, 
Three  Cheers  for  the  Engineers,  Stone  and  Northington 
and  the  constructors,  and  the  Workmen,  and  a  Tiger  for 
Nehemiah. 


CAMP   LEWIS  29 


CHAPTER  III. 

WELCOMES  THE  FIRST,  WHICH  IS  THE  NINETY-emd-FIRST 
DIVISION  TO  CAMP  LEWIS;  TELLS  OF  ITS  MUSTERING, 
BUGLE  CALLS,  AND  A  DAY'S  ROUTINE. 

Did  the  young  fellows  who  sprang  from  trains  at 
American  Lake  those  golden  September  days,  realize  they 
were  the  a's  in  that  primer  whose  alphabet  would  record 
History?  *I  love  my  love  with  an  A  because  she  is 
America,  because  she  assures,  advances,  assists,  attacks, 
atones:  I  love  my  love  with  an  A  because  she's  an 
Ally. 

Strangely  enough,  the  name  of  the  First  Recruit  at 
Camp  Lewis  is  known,  probably  the  only  one,  definitely, 
in  all  the  cantonments,  since  men  arrived  in  numbers 
which  overwhelmed  receiving  offices.  Col.  Davison  was  in 
Seattle  under  orders  to  proceed  to  Camp  Lewis,  and  was 
driven  there,  the  first  week  in  September,  1917,  by  a 
chaffeur  who  had  been  drafted.  So  Col.  Peter  W.  Davison 
and  private  //.  W.  Hauck  arrived  together,  and  for  three 
days  constituted  the  entire  Depot  Brigade. 

To  begin  before  the  beginning,  the  local  draft  board 
of  every  town  sending  recruits  had  beforehand  furnished 
the  Division  Adjutant  with  lists  of  men  entrained. 
Upon  arrival,  the  .party  handed  receiving  officers  a 


*This  game  was  common  at  least  250  years  ago  when  Samuel 
Pepys,  Secretary  of  the  War  Board  of  England,  remarks  in  his 
celebrated  Diary:  "Did  find  the  Duke  of  York  and  Duchess  with  all 
the  great  ladies  sitting  upon  a  carpet  on  the  ground  playing  at,  "I 
love  my  love  with  an  A  because  he  is  So-and-so,  and  I  hate  him 
with  an  A  because  of  this  and  that;  and  some  of  them,  particularly 
the  Duchess  herself  and  my  Lady  Castlemaine,  were  very  witty." 


30 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


list  of  names,  occupations,  physical  conditions,  etc. 
There  were  compared  and  checked  off.  Physicians 
at  hand  made  examinations  of  every  man  from 
cow-lick  to  sole,  and  an  officer  conducted  the  men 
to  the  organizations  to  which  they  were  assigned.  At 
the  beginning  this  was,  necessarily,  hit  and  miss,  as 


HERBERT  W.   HAUCK,   FIRST  PRIVATE   AT  CAMP   LEWIS 

the  Depot  Brigade  was  not  then  ready.  Men  were  placed, 
as  far  as  possible,  in  companies  from  the  same  state 
and  city,  that  they  might  feel  less  lonely  and  more 
quickly  catch  the  spirit  of  competition  and  comradeship. 
The  boys  were  beginning  at  the  first  form  in  Freedom's 
military  school — hard  study,  intensive  training,  but  its 


CAMP   LEWIS  31 

graduates  to  take  the  degree  of  M.  A.,  Master  American, 
Soldier!  Hurrah  for  the  Rookies!  You  will  think  this 
book  a  continual  Hurrah.  Well,  it  is.  Quit  right  here 
if  you  don't  like  throwing  up  your  hat  and  shouting, 
for  this  whole  thing  is  too  inspiring  to  allow  anyone 
to  act  "the  puffek  lady,"  and  know  this,  that  it  is  an 
honor  to  have  any  part  in  Camp  Lewis,  if  it  is  nothing 
greater  than  Yell-Master.  So  there!  Hurrah  for  the 
Rookies! 

From  the  first,  this  cantonment  has  been  favored  of 
the  gods — to  be  quite  up  to  date,  favored  of  God.  Its 
high  officers  have  been  one  hundred  per  cent  efficient. 
No  other  man,  it  would  seem,  could  have  so  handled 
this  difficult  situation  as  Lieut.-Col.  Guy  Knabenshue, 
of  the  General  Staff,  Mustering  Officer.  However,  he 
is  another  man  who  had  not  just  happened.  When  the 
Spanish-American  war  broke  out,  he  broke  out  of  his 
editor's  chair,  in  Sanduskey,  Ohio.  Appointed  Second 
lieutenant,  he  was  assigned  to  duty  at  the  Recruit  Con- 
centration Camp  at  Atlanta:  went  with  4th  Infantry  to 
Manila,  commanded  a  detachment  of  scouts,  served  as  Aid- 
de-camp  on  Gen.  Frederick  Grant's  staff.  Within  a  year 
he  was  First  lieutenant,  went  to  China  for  the  Boxer 
Rebellion;  back  to  his  regiment  in  Luzon,  campaigning 
constantly  to  clear  out  insurgents.  Again  Aid  to  Gen. 
Grant  who  was  back  in  the  district.  Captain  in  Monterey, 
Major  in  border  troubles  at  Nogales,  Arizona,  Lieutenant- 
colonel  of  National  Army,  August  5,  1917,  and  came  to 
Camp  Lewis  the  end  of  August.  He  had  done  good  hard 
distinguishing  work  upon  fortifications  in  the  Philippines, 
would  not  even  knock  off  for  an  attack  of  malignant 
malaria  which  he  "camouflaged"  to  get  to  China.  It 
finally  downed  him  at  Tien  Tsin  where,  for  years,  his 
father  was  U.  S.  Consul-general.  The  only  thing  German 
about  the  Colonel  is  his  name,  for  he  is  of  the  seventh 
generation  in  this  country,  a  big,  cordial  man,  with  a 
smile  that  welcomed  the  recruits,  and  which  seldom 
failed  through  the  ceaseless  rush  of  days  and  weeks 
which  carried  their  burdens  until  midnight,  two,  three 
o'clock  sometimes. 


32  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

"This  formation  organizing  was  a  new  game  to  all 
of  us,  we  had  to  learn  to  play  it.  We  went  slow  at  first, 
only  65  that  first  day,  September  11,  1917,  but  we  mus- 
tered in  2700  men  in  one  day,  later."  The  doctors,  he 
admits,  were  sadly  overworked.  It  would  never  occur 
to  him  that  he  was  the  hardest  worked  man  on  the  can- 
tonment, which  was  "some  going." 

So  Col.  Knabenshue  mustered  in  the  First  drafted 
personnel  of  this  First,  this  Ninety  and  First  Division 
to  Camp  Lewis. 

Assigned  elsewhere  and  promoted,  Col.  Knabenshue 
was  followed,  in  both  respects,  by  Lieut.  Col.  Richmond 
Smith.  Capt.  W.  H.  McConnell  succeeded  him  as  mus- 
tering officer  and,  with  First  Lieut.  W.  Q.  Van  Cott  as 
assistant,  remained  throughout  the  year. 

:£  :fc  :|:  ;|:  :£  :]:  ;|:  :K  #  * 

Want  to  follow  Jack  from  the  mustering  office  through 
his  day?  Then  you  must  waken  at  5:45  A.  M. — American 
time, — which  is  black  night  in  Winter.  Alarm  clocks 
for  stay-at-homes,  bells  aboard  ship,  bugle  calls  for  the 
army.  It  is  Reveille — not  the  French  pronunciation, 
just  Revilly,  awakening.  These  are  the  words  connected 
with  its  tones  by  regulars  who,  by  the  way,  call  buglers 
hell-cats : 

I  can't  get  'em  up,  I  can't  get  'em  up,  I  can't  get 
'em  up  in  the  morning;  I  can't  get  'em  up,  I  can't 
get  'em  up,  I  can't  get  'em  up  at  all. 
The  Corporal's  worse  than  the  private,  the  Ser- 
geant's worse  than  the  Corporal,  the  Lieutenant's 
worse  than  the  Sergeant,  and  the  Captain's  worst 
of  all. 

I  can't  get  'em  up,  I  can't  get  'em  up,  I  can't  get 
'em  up  in  the  morning;  I  can't  get  'em  up,  I  can't 
get  'em  up,  I  can't  get  'em  up  at  all. 

A  bugler  wears  his  instrument,  in  felt,  upon  his  sleeve. 

Jack's  bed  has  no  sheets,  and  his  mattress  is  stuffed 
with  straw,  but  he  is  not  disturbed  by  its  rustle.  He 
is  so  tired  by  night  that  if  he  hears  it  at  all  'tis  as  a 


CAMP  LEWIS  33 

breeze  sighing  over  a  wheat  field.  His  bunk  is  comfort- 
able. Jack  must  heed  the  bugle's  call  as  he  never  did 
yours.  Fact  is,  Mrs.  Mother  American,  Jack  was  not 
being  built  for  a  prop  to  home  or  state.  Decidedly  he 
needed  jacking  up — and  he's  getting  it.  This  is  the 
great  Compensation  of  the  war. .  So  Jack  is  up,  and  he 
must  be  washed,  dressed  for  inspection,  buttoned  to  the 
chin,  ready  to  fall  in  when  the  bugles  blow  Assembly 
at  six: 

//  you  don't  come  now,  Why  you  needn't  come  at  all 
For  you'll  lose  five  dollars  if  you  miss  this  call. 

Jack  responds  to  his  name  in  the  roll  call  and  at 
6:15,,  pre-cisely,  Mess  call  sounds.  The  old  words  are 
a  libel  upon  the  really  good  food. 

Soupie  sloppy  soupie,  without  a  single  bean, 
Porky  salty  porky,  ivithout  a  streak  of  lean, 
Coffee  sloppy  coffee,  so  muddy  and  so  mean. 

At  first  there  was  some  ground  for  complaint;  not 
all  messes  were  lucky  enough  to  have  experienced  cooks, 
though  there  were  many  who  had  hotel  and  restaurant 
men,  some  cooks  that  were  chefs.  But  as  the  camp 
settled  down  to  business,  classes  of  recruits  qualified  at 
a  cantonment  school  for  cooks,  and  now  no  large  body  of 
men  is  anywhere  better  fed,  plenty  of  variety,  of  best 
material,  prepared  under  sanitary  conditions,  and  well- 
cooked.  You  need  express  no  poor-dearing  about  Jack's 
food.  It  isn't  served  in  courses,  and  agate  ware  is  not 
dainty,  but  uniforms  tighten  'till  it  is  "clothes  pressing 
done  within."  Many  a  man  who  literally  and  figuratively 
picked  at  rich  food  and  elegant  service  at  home,  sits 
down  to  "chow"  at  camp  with  a  zest  which  spares  only 
the  plate.  On  the  other  hand,  many  a  man  is  eating  the 
best  food  he  ever  sat  down  to.  In  fact,  we  stay-at-homes 
are  not  living  so  high  as  they,  these  war  days.  The  army 
is  not  Hooverizing,  not  by  a  long  shot. 

§  4 


34  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Many  a  good-natured  gibe  or  kick  is  directed  against  a 
tall  slender  "hash-slinger"  who,  a  week  ago,  was  sitting  un- 
der mahogany  at  his  fashionable  club.  He  has  been  accus- 
tomed to  dressing  for  dinner,  and  Mike,  there,  to  undressing 
for  the  evening  meal.  Both  are  attired  the  same  now, 
for  Uncle  Sam  is  most  punctilious  in  such  matters,  and 
khaki  is  en  regie.  It  is  astonishing  how  strong  a  resem- 
blance his  nephews  bear  to  one  another,  so  attired,  though 
the  family  had  scattered  so  widely,  married  among 
various  foreigners,  and  traveled  such  myriad  roads  to 
this.  At  first,  Jack  "could  not  place  Dago;"  not  odd, 
because  Jack  usually  read  a  paper  while  Dago  was 
polishing  his  boots,  but  it's  surprising  how  entertaining 
Dago  is,  and  all  four  of  the  Italians  under  him  in  his 
"gents  blacking  parlor"  invested  in  several  Liberty  Bonds 
every  issue,  and  Jack  remembers  there  was  a  service  flag 
over  the  center  chair.  "So  Dago  is  that  star — nice  fellow, 
Dago,  queer,  but  full  of  ideas,"  new  to  Jack. 

But  you  have  lingered  longer  at  the  table  than  he. 
There  are  no  chamber-maids  at  Hotel  de  Barracks.  Jack 
must  make  his  bed  neatly  and  sweep  around  his  bed. 
It  is  all  inspected,  too,  he  soon  learns.  Drill  at  seven. 

Get  them  out,  Corporal  Krout, 
If  you  can't  get  them  out,  then  put  them  in  mill; 
Get  them  out  at  a  rout,  get  them  out  with  a  shout, 
Outside,  you  soldiers,  for  drill." 

You  want  to  watch  his  drill?  He  may  be  on  K.  P. 
today,  Kitchen  Police.  Glance  into  that  very  clean  kitchen. 
Why  does  that  young  fellow  look  familiar?  Because 
you  have  seen  him  playing  opposite  the  leading  lady  in 
many  a  moving  picture.  He  is  playing  opposite  an  ex- 
farmer  now,  who  may  have  grown  those  very  potatoes 
both  are  peeling.  He  bears  a  name  to  conjure  the  stage 
for  it  is  that  of  Belasco.  A  week  ago,  in  an  elegant 
apartment  in  Southern  California,  he  was  being  served 
creamed  potatoes,  ignorant  of  their  grimy  skinning.  But 
the  fun  which  ran  through  his  comedies  enlivens  this 
"new  engagement."  He  insists  he's  the  best  spud  peeler 
in  camp  and  quick  as  a  Hun  digging  their  eyes  out. 


CAMP   LEWIS  35 

Last  month  his  income  was  seventeen  hundred  dollars — 
and  lost:  this  month  it  is  thirty  dollars  "and  found." 

Great  luck !  Jack's  not  on  the  K.  P.  this  morning. 
Seven  o'clock,  drill.  The  first  they  take  up  is  "physical 
torture,"  or  "up-setting  exercises."  Those  of  the  early 
first  draft,  labored  under  many  disadvantages,  not  the 
least  of  these  being  unable,  because  of  no  advanced 
recruits,  to  see  what  these  setting-up  exercises  did  for 
them.  Hollow-cheeked,  office-bleached  many  were,  ambling, 
stooped;  others  red-faced  from  drink,  and  dissipation, 
shaking  and  nervous  from  their  deprivation;  college 
boys  quitting  before  Commencement,  athletic  and  eager; 
swells  with  white  hands,  miners  with  black,  farmers  with 
brown;  some  speaking  our  language,  but  more  our  slang- 
uage; foreigners  with  little  English,  and  foreigners 
with  none;  men  of  every  profession  and  business  and 
trade;  loafers  penniless  and  loafers  millionaire,  authors 
and  teachers  and  preachers;  professional  singers  and 
players  and  actors,  vaudeville  headliners  and  headlights 
of  Science;  movie  and  philanthropist  posers;  stock  brokers 
and  banana  peddlers,  bankers  and  bank-diggers;  black 
and  white  and  red  and  yellow  men;  in  brief,  all  sorts 
and  conditions  of  men,  excepting  only  old  men;  an  over- 
whelming majority  eager  for  the  Great  Adventure,  a 
few  unwilling,  a  very  few  boobies  and  cowards. 

Uniforms  are  few  and  far  between,  these  first  days, 
most  men  appearing  in  overalls,  the  nearest  to  size  ob- 
tainable, the  result  being  that  the  setting-up  exercises 
are  not  impressively  martial.  Jack  felt  he  had  made 
some  progress  toward  France  when  he  could  march  by 
fours  in  a  squad,  eight  men,  the  smallest  army  section, 
with  its  corporal  in  the  center  to  bellow  orders.  In 
fact,  Jack  became  corporal  himself  soon,  for,  as  he  whim- 
sically says,  "You  can't  keep  a  big  man  down."  A 
corporal  is  the  lowest  officer  in  the  army,  non-commis- 
sioned at  that.  There  is  even  a  lance  corporal  who  is 
just  an  acting  corporal,  but  Jack  skipped  him,  advancing 
as  he  insists,  "by  leaps  and  bounds."  As  corporal,  he 
sets  and  relieves  sentries  and  receives  thirty-six  dollars 


36  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

a  month.  It  is  highly  entertaining  to  hear  the  men's  com- 
ments on  their  pay,  insufficient  to  many  army  privates 
for  cigarette  bills,  to  others  a  decent  living,  since  Uncle 
Sam  settles  for  transportation,  board,  lodging,  doctor, 
dentist  and  medicine.  At  any  rate,  ours  is  by  far  the 
best  paid  army  the  world  has  even  known,  and  it  always 
is  paid. 

But  it  isn't  the  money  increase  that  Jack  rejoices  in, 
but  that  bit  of  felt  sewed  upon  his  sleeve,  half  way 
between  shoulder  and  elbow,  that  chevron  which  tells 
of  advance  by  reason  of  merit  and  hard  work.  The  first, 
from  ordinary  private  and  bugler  at  thirty  dollars,  to 
first-class  private  at  three  dollars  more,  enables  him  to 
wear  the  insignia  of  his  corps  upon  his  sleeve,  a  horse's 
head  for  farrier,  cook's  cap,  saddler's  knife,  mechanic's 
crossed  mallet  and  pick,  same  with  palm  underneath  for 
chief  mechanic  field  artillery,  signal  flags,  etc.  The  lance 
corporal's  point  of  one  line,  adds  another  for  a  corporal, 
and  two  for  the  sergeant,  from  to  serve.  He  it  is  who 
instructs  recruits  in  company  discipline  and  forming 
ranks,  is  general  boss  and  butt  for  witticisms.  From  com- 
pany sergeant  at  thirty-eight  dollars  and  three  stripes 
in  the  point  of  his  chevron,  he  advances  to  sergeant- 
major  and  as  bandleader  draws  eighty-one  dollars.  The 
corps  is  shown  by  the  insignia  below  the  point,  and 
his  degree  by  the  lines  under  that.  The  sergeant-major 
is  highest  non-commissioned  officer  in  the  army.  As 
for  importance,  officers  rank  themselves:  1,  second- 
lieutenant  (lowest  commissioned),  2,  top-sergeant,  3  major- 
general. 

Jack  has  still  to  salute  almost  every  man  first.  Of 
course,  you  can  tell  a  private  as  far  as  you  can  see  him, 
by  his  canvas  leggings  and  his  colored  hat  cord.  Officers 
wear  spiral  cloth  leggings  or  leather  puttees. 

All  the  time  we  have  been  talking,  Jack  has  been 
drilling.  Here  and  there  near  the  barracks,  bodies  of 
men  are  endeavoring  the  first  rudiments  of  war.  Young 
lieutenants,  themselves  not  long  graduated  from  a  train- 
ing camp,  are  striving  to  train  their  men  for  the  captain 


CAMP  LEWIS  37 

to  handle  as  a  company  later.  Lieu-tenant  means  holding 
in  place  of,  you  know.  All  are  very  earnestly  at  it;  now 
that  at  last  we  are  in  the  war,  we  want  to  make  up  for 
that  lost,  that  eternally  lost,  time.  And  beware  of  that 
man,  or  that  nation,  which  is  slow  to  anger.  Everywhere 
about  Camp  Lewis  there  is,  and  was  from  its  first  day, 
an  eager  earnestness  that  is  most  inspiring  even  to  a 
casual  onlooker,  and  which  is  contracted  by  every  recruit 
who  strikes  the  camp.  An  army  in  the  making,  an  army 
while  you  wait,  while  They  wait,  those  poor  Belgian 
and  French  women  who  know  what  war  means,  who  are 
suffering  sucn  hell  horrors  while  you  are  safe  at  home, 
or  here  visiting  Jack. 

After  noon,  more  drill,  with  intervals  of  rest,  the  men 
sitting  in  a  wide  circle  upon  the  ground  that  lovely  Fall, 
each  group  listening  to  a  young  officer  reading  and 
explaining  this  new  testament  of  war,  reverently  it  is 
said,  the  manual  of  arms  or  special  instructions  to  the 
soldiers.  Even  the  games  were  contrived  to  further 
fighting  efficiency.  See  that  board  carried  rapidly  by  a 
private  at  each  end  down  two  lines  of  facing  men.  It  is 
like  a  disaster  coming  upon  you,  you  down  it  or  it  downs 
you.  As  the  board  approaches,  every  man  must  leap  it. 
Sounds  simple,  almost  silly,  but  it  is  neither.  Some  men 
are  flighty  and  spring  too  soon,  other  are  slow-witted 
and  delay  a  second  too  long.  Both  are  disastrous,  arousing 
shouts  of  ridicule.  Indecision  in  battle  would  cost  a 
life,  mayhap  many. 

"What  I  learned  of  physiology  at  school  is  rot,"  asserts 
a  former  clerk,  "why  I  have  one  thousand  three  hundred 
thirteen  and  one-half  bones,  one  was  broken  today  on 
the  rack  of  physical  torture ;  and  I  have  one  million  muscles 
every  one  up  in  arms.  It's  a  riot."  Yet,  it  was  not 
long  before  that  very  boy  was  pitching  for  a  base-ball 
game  after  hours  of  drill  or  a  long  hike.  It  was  most 
interesting  to  note  how  rapidly  recruits  hardened  to  drill, 
grew  quick  to  hear,  to  do,  acquired  soldierly  bearing, 
lost  their  irresponsible  air,  gained  dignity.  Yes,  dignity, 
they  found  it  in  obedience,  in  the  consciousness  of  steady 

168833 


38  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

acquisition  of  a  man's  worth  for  battling  in  the  fiercest 
war  the  world  has  suffered.  And  co-operation!  Never 
was  so  democratic  an  army,  for  the  privates  are  largely 
college-bred,  learning  literally  by  heart  of  officers,  men 
big  enough  to  lose  nothing  of  dignity  by  recognizing 
manliness,  the  result  being  that  all  deference  is  accorded 
them.  Between  highest  officers  and  privates  there  exists 
an  understanding,  a  sympathy,  and  a  genuine  admiration, 
which  are  as  rare  as  they  are  binding. 

If  dress  parade  is  held,  'tis  at  4:30  on  the  parade 
ground,  bands  playing,  but  it  is  generally  Recall  that  is 
sounded  and  the  troops  march  to  their  quarters  and 
stand  in  double  rows  before  them.  At  4:45  sounds  first 
call  Retreat.  Then  do  the  bugles  call  the  colors.  Traffic 
stops  in  the  ways,  orderlies  dismount  and  stand  beside 
their  horses,  absolute  silence  falls  over  the  many  thousands 
facing  the  flag  at  salute.  'Tis  a  solemn  moment.  The 
heart  swells  as  eyes  lift  to  that  fair  flag,  slowly  responding 
to  the  calling  bugles,  lowered  by  its  own  people,  never 
by  aliens  since  the  stars  first  shone  in  its  sky,  and  rever- 
ently caught  breast  high  by  waiting  hands,  for  the  colors 
must  never  touch  the  ground.  And  as  it  descends,  every- 
where the  bands  greet  "The  Star-Spangled  Banner"  by 
name.  With  its  careful  folding  and  housing,  official 
day  is  done. 

Then  the  boys  rush  in  to  their  mess  halls  for  a  third 
hearty  meal  and  all  are  free  for  the  evening  and  for 
amusements  so  many  and  varied  that  they  would  fill  a 
book. 

A  long  hard  day  it  seems  and  yet,  in  peace  times,  the 
Old  Hudson  Bay  Company's  at  its  post  hard  by,  began 
earlier,  ended  later.  Its  Commandant  was  Dr.  McLaughlin 
when  Captain  Wilkes  visited  there  in  1841.  A  bell  at 
early  dawn  rang  all  hands,  breakfastless,  to  work.  They 
were  recalled  for  their  first  meat  at  eight  o'clock.  At 
nine  they  were  back  at  work.  Dinner  at  one;  at  two 
they  returned  to  labor  till  six,  when  they  "called  it  a 
half  day  and  went  fishing,"  or  rather,  supped. 

At  nine  o'clock,  just  the  start  of  the  evening  at  home, 
Jack  says,  bugles  sound  Tattoo  and  lights  go  out  in  bar- 


CAMP  LEWIS  39 

racks.  No  need  to  be  in  quarters  but  darkness  and 
silence  fall  there.  At  a  quarter  of  eleven,  "Call  to 
Quarters"  and  here  and  there  belated  soldiers  are  rushing 
toward  barracks,  for  at  eleven  Taps  must  find  everyone 
in  his  narrow  bed  in  the  two  long  rows  of  the  dormitory. 
Men  have  not  been  long  in  camp  before  they  are  accus- 
tomed to  sleep  early,  so  they  are  likely  already  dreaming 
of  home  and  you  when  Taps  says  goodnight: 

"Go  to  sleep,  peaceful  sleep, 

May  a  soldier  or  sailor  God  keep, 

On  the  land  or  on  the  deep." 

And  they  sleep.  The  moon  looks  in  to  see  that  all 
is  well,  or  the  rain  patters  upon  the  roof  which  shelters 
your  Jack  and  mine.  Safe  they  are,  at  least  for  today, 
and  today  is  done Taps. 


40  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THE  BASE  HOSPITAL — TEAM  WORK  OF  NOTED  INDIVIDUALISTS 
— DIVISION  SURGEON  FIELD — LIEUT.-COL.  NORTHINGTON— 
MENINGITIS,  PNEUMONIA  AND  LIEUT.  ROCKEY — X-RAY 
AND  CAPT.  DIEMER —  ORTHOPEDY  AND  MAJ.  RICH —  SAR- 
GENTICH  AND  SERBIAN —  TUBERCULOSIS  AND  THE  MAT- 
SON'S — MAJ.  WHITACRE,  SURGERY  AND  THE  ROCKEY'S. 

Before  ever  the  Ninety-First  took  the  field,  a  critical 
engagement  was  fought  within  the  cantonment.  No  bands 
and  banners  preceded  the  charge,  no  buglers  sounded 
the  onslaught.  Pretentious  historians  may  ignore  this 
pioneer  skirmish  and  the  two  officers  commanding  the 
sorties,  Lieut.  Col.  Peter  Field  and  Maj.  Northington,  pro- 
moted to  same  rank  as  result  of  the  campaign. 

Upon  the  Division  Surgeon  devolves  responsibility 
for  the  bodily  health  of  all  the  thousands  of  our  family 
of  the  cantonment,  and  of  camp  sanitation.  Well  named 
is  he,  for  he  holds  Prevention  before  Intervention:  and 
Peter,  the  rock,  set  in  a  wall  of  defense  against  Contagion 
from  without,  takes  the  Field  in  a  ruthless  offensive  should 
it  break  into  camp.  The  only  inappropriate  part  of  his 
signature  is  lieutenant-colonel,  since  tenant  is  holder  in 
lieu  of  a  superior,  and  the  Ninety-First's  has  none.  Not  in 
any  camp,  anywhere,  anytime  has  the  record  been  equaled, 
though  Camp  Lewis  has  repeatedly  broken  its  own.  For 
instance,  official  report  for  week  ending  February  15, 
1918,  with  30,650  men  encamped:  "There  have  been  no 
deaths  during  the  last  two  weeks.  No  new  cases  of 
cerebro-Spinal  meningitis  have  developed  during  the  week. 
Mumps  and  scarlet  fever  cases  are  fewer  in  number  than 
reported  during  the  preceding  week.  Some  cases  of 


CAMP  LEWIS  41 

measles  have  been  admitted  to  the  hospital  which  were 
undoubtedly  infected  outside  of  the  camp.  The  latest  re- 
port from  the  surgeon  general's  office  shows  Camp  Lewis 
below  the  average  of  all  camps  for  admission  of  disease 
to  the  hospital  and  the  non-effective  rate." 

"F.  R.  MOUNT, 
Major,  M.  R.  C.  Division  Sanitary  Inspector. 

R.  C.  FIELD, 
Lieut. -Col.  Medical  Corps,  U.  S.  A. 

"Division  Surgeon." 

In  passing,  Major,  following  the  Division  Sanitary 
Inspector's  name,  is  a  recent  appraisal,  he  was  Lieutenant 
when  he  came,  emphasizing  opportunity  for  men  to  Mount 
rapidly  in  this  great  new  army. 

Camp  Lewis  stands  First  in  all  history  of  encamped 
men  to  the  number  of  50,000,  in  health  rating.  Women- 
kin,  is  not  that  reassuring?  Beginning  at  the  beginning 
was  not  soon  enough  for  these  men;  they  were  on  the 
ground  when  ground  was  all  there  was.  Col.  Field  admits 
that  he  was  a  perfect  nuisance  to  everybody.  He  was 
quite  willing  anyone  should  have  second  chance,  but  the 
hospital  simply  had  to  be  built  first.  He  posted  special 
sentries,  so  to  speak,  in  tents  beside  the  railway  station, 
where  day  or  night,  every  man  who  arrived  was  challenged : 
"Contagion,  stand  and  be  recognized."  Capt.  Cooley  and 
Lieut.  Hilgenberg  assert  that  the  intensive  training  they 
underwent  for  this  work  should  have  been  at  the  Tower 
of  Babel  instead  of  at  Fort  Harrison.  Lieut.  Reidy  in  the 
assigning  tent,  quite  a  linguist,  eased  things.  Nine 
nationalities,  including  a  Chinese  and  a  Greek,  were  under 
examination  at  once.  If  alien  germs  appeared,  into  quar- 
antine went  the  man,  if  ill,  to  the  hospital,  so  disease  never 
gained  the  foothold  it  did  in  some  camps.  Every  "rookie" 
was  later  "shot"  for  typhoid,  and  vaccinated.  His  second 
physical  examination  was  before  a  board  of  experts  and 
if  there  was  anything  in  his  anatomy,  inside  or  out,  which 
they  did  not  investigate,  it  was  the  meditations  of  his 
heart — and  they  were  only  too  apparent. 


42  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

The  second  efficiency  cause  was  Col.  Field's  checking 
system.  At  Divisional  Headquarters  hang  maps  stuck 
with  pins,  vari-colored  heads  for  various  diseases.  As 
the  battle  rages  these  pins  are  moved  daily.  The  maps 
resemble  those  of  a  commanding  general  at  the  front,  and 
they  are.  The  Colonel  is  fighting  Contagion,  Disease  and 
Death,  not  only  in  the  Division  but,  in  a  sense,  in  the 
eight  great  contributing  states,  California,  Oregon,  Wash- 
ington, Montana,  Idaho,  Wyoming,  Nevada  and  Utah,  an 
empire  larger  than  all  the  battling  powers  in  Europe. 
He  works  with  the  Health  Department  of  nearby  cities. 
For  instance,  Colonel  Magruder  informed  Tacoma's  health 
officer  that  the  city's  water  system  would  be  investigated, 
and  the  latter  recommended  a  second  chlorine  gas  ma- 
chine. How  much  happier  that  country  where  chlorine 
gas  is  ordered  to  protect,  not  to  destroy. 

There  are  eighteen  infirmaries  scattered  throughout 
the  cantonment,  with  staffs  of  physicians,  dentists,  and 
enlisted  men  each  with  its  dispensary.  So,  mothers,  you 
need  not  fear  Son  is  ill  without  care.  Sick  men  are  of  no 
use  to  anybody.  The  government,  as  a  plain  matter  of 
business,  must  have  efficient  soldiers,  so  every  morning 
at  seven  the  bugles  sound  Sick  Call — 

Come  all  ye  sick,  come  all  ye  lame, 

Come  all  ye  lazy  and  blind, 

Come  on  down  to  the  hospital, 

And  they  will  give  you  quinine,  quinine,  quinine. 

The  "regs"  say  that's  what  the  bugle  calls,  but  quinine  is 
clean  out  of  style  now.  Instead  of  being  lined  up  and  given 
quinine  from  one  end  to  the  other,  for  every  ailment  from 
"a  to  zed  except  housemaid's  knee,"  he  is  ordered  to  his  regi- 
mental infirmary,  under  care  of  a  corporal  and  cured  in 
short  order  unless  it  is  a  case  of  contagion,  surgery,  men- 
tality, or  serfous  disease  requiring  specialists  and  trained 
nurses — there  are  only  men  at  infirmaries,  in  which  case 
an  ambulance  takes  him  to  the  base  hospital,  and  if  the 
ailment  is  contagious,  in  an  ambulance  devoted  to  that 


CAMP   LEWIS  43 

especially,  a  new  and  sensible  idea.  Likeliest,  it  is  "Kaiser 
measles,"  in  which  event,  I  grieve  to  say,  Son  will  be 
heartlessly  cussed  with  a  unanimity  of  company  senti- 
ment which,  otherwise  directed  would  prove  most  desirable 
esprit  de  corps.  Excuse  French  which  we  all  are  learn- 
ing or  relearning.  No,  that  is  not  polite  for  corpse — me, 
I  never  thought  French  any  politer  than  English,  anyway. 
You  know  German  measles  only  make  a  man  ugly.  You 
are  well  out  of  nursing  His  Hatefulness,  for  he  won't  be 
sick  enough  to  be  saintly.  So  Son  goes  to  the  base  hospi- 


Courtesy  of  Commercial  Bindery  &  Printing  Co.,  Tacoma 

SCREENED    IN    ISOLATION    WARD 

tal,  enters  one  of  four  isolation  wards  under  charge  of 
Lieut.  Smeal,  to  lounge  on  flowery  beds  of  ease  out  in 
the  screened  porch — "What,  turned  out  of  doors!"..  Yes, 
quite  the  latest  thing  in  scarlet  fever,  measles,  pneumonia, 
etc.,  "He  is  fed  up  on  good  eats,  hocks  drill  while  his 
whole  company  is  quarantined  in  barracks  for  two  or 
three  weeks  on  the  very  eve  of  a  dance  with  some  nice 
girls  chap'd  from  Tacoma.  This  very  date  the  364th  In- 
fantry recalled  invites  to  a  dance  for  the  fourth  time, 
because  of  Quarantine  for  Measley  Kaisers.  "It's  a 
darned  shame,  and  another  guy'll  break  out." — I  assure 
you  this  language  is  not  my  own,  which  is  invariably 
gentle  and  refined — "and  nix  for  our  vaudeville.  No  such 
'uck  as  company  skipping  drill,  drills  by  itself;"  and  if 


44  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

She  comes  out,  she  must  stand  ten  feet  away,  in  wind 
and  mud,  while  conversation  ebbs  and  flows  with  the 
advance  and  retreat  of  the  sentry,  "that  infernal  joker 
Jones"  who  exacts  heavy  toll  of  angel  food  which  you 
may  receive  only  on  the  fly  over  the  prescribed  ten  feet. 
He  says  angel  food  should  be  delivered  by  wing,  and  that 
kind  was  never  baked 

"For  you,  and  not  for  me, 

For  me  the  angels  singaling — aling 

They've  got  the  goods  for  me." 

That  is  from  a  rather  sacreligious  trench  song.  Still, 
as  Jones  says,  angels  lay  themselves  open  to  such  remarks 
with  their  wings  and  things.  But  you  see,  yourself,  now 
don't  you,  mother  of  Son,  that  sympathy  for  him  could 
hardly  be  expected  under  the  circumstances?  However, 
sympathy  is  real  and  ready  in  any  trouble  or  pain. 

The  head  of  the  Base  Hospital  is  Lt.  Col.  Eugene  North- 
ington,  head  in  every  sense.  Following  three  years  as 
assistant  at  Letterman  Hospital,  San  Francisco,  he  came 
to  Camp  Lewis  in  June,  1917,  as  sanitary  inspector,  to 
forestall  disease  among  workmen  numbering  10,000.  For 
that,  Maj.  Northington  received  his  training  in  the  Oc- 
cupation of  Havanna,  in  1899.  He  was  appointed  by  the 
Government  to  command  an  institution  yet  to  be,  and 
ordered  to  build  it.  No  wonder  that  he  feels  toward  the 
Base  Hospital  as  a  father,  rather  than  a  Commander, 
loving  it  as  a  child  grown  into  distinguished  manhood, 
for  he  put  his  heart  into  the  body  of  it  and  infused  his 
spirit  into  its  development. 

Maj.  Stone  turned  over  the  whole  Base  Hospital  busi- 
ness to  Maj.  Northington,  who  began  building  it  August 
20.  In  eighteen  days  it  was  ready  for  405  patients;  by 
April  it  accommodated  2200  and  before  the  Division  left 
Camp  Lewis,  double  that  number.  For  months,  less  than 
forty  doctors  treated  1400  patients  at  a  time.  So  over- 
worked were  they  that  enlisted  men  were  pressed  into 
the  service.  Wednesday  and  Saturday  afternoons  and 
all  day  Sunday  were  camp  holidays  for  all  but  medics. 


CAMP   LEWIS  45 

The  sign  of  the  army  medical  corps  is  the  Caduceus 
or  wand  of  authority  borne  by  Mercury,  messenger  and 
interpreter  of  the  gods,  its  staff,  force,  entwined  by  two 
serpents,  wisdom  and  subtlety — search  and  research — 
surmounted  by  wings,  alertness  and  activity.  The  Great 
Physician  Himself  authorized  this  Caduceus,  "Be  ye  wise 
as  serpents  and  harmless  as  doves,"  and  used  its  staff  to 
drive  money-changers  from  the  temple.  The  Hospitalers 
are  upon  His  personal  Staff,  having  themselves  driven  forth 
the  money  changers  from  the  temple,  "which  temple  ye 
are." 

Nothing  could  be  more  different  than  this  hospital  and 
that  erected  875  years  ago  for  the  purpose,  both,  of 
sheltering  Pilgrims,  pilgrims  to  the  City  of  Jerusalem  and 
to  this  City  to  Enforce  Peace,  but  both  institutions  con- 
ducted by  Hospitalers,  Knights  of  St.  John,  who,  you 
remember,  was  called  by  the  Great  Physician,  the  Be- 
loved, because  he  loved  much.  These  men  are  not  averag- 
ing twelve  and  fourteen  hours  a  day  for  a  bare  living, 
but  for  a  full  one;  love  for  country,  for  the  work,  for 
men.  These  Hospitalers  now  number  98,  two  or  three 
missing  from  the  picture,  and  the  roster  is  an  honor  roll 
in  that  it  bears  many  of  the  leading  medics  of  the  North- 
west. There  are  more  than  twice  as  many  in  the  hospi- 
tal, not  counting  those  in  the  infirmaries,  as  are  left 
to  the  whole  population  of  Tacoma,  which  is  many  more 
than  twice  that  of  Camp  Lewis.  So  Home  folks,  you  see 
the  army  has  about  six  times  as  many  doctors  as  civilians 
have,  yet  Dr.  E.  C.  Wheeler,  chairman  of  the  Medical  Sec- 
tion of  the  State  Council  of  Defense,  just  received  this 
telegram  from  the  National  Council  of  Defense  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. : 

"An  urgent  need  exists  for  several  thousand  ad- 
ditional medical  officers  in  the  army  and  navy,  some 
for  immediate  service,  some  for  training  and  others 
to  be  held  in  reserve.  Urge  your  state  and  county 
committees  to  speed  up  enrollment  as  effectively 
as  possible." 


46  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

The  Japanese  discovered  during  their  war  with  Russia 
that  a  plenitude  of  surgeons  gave  confidence  to  the  soldier 
as  well  as  providing  instant  attention  to  disease  or  wounds, 
with  incalculable  life-saving.  We  have  benefitted  by  their 
experiences  and  the  bitterness  of  our  own  unpreparedness 
and  unorganization  in  this  respect  during  our  Spanish- 
American  war.  Add  to  all  this,  that  our  soldiers  live 
such  regular  and  out-of-door  lives  under  perfect  sanitary 
conditions  that  they  are  far  less  liable  to  disease  than 
we  careless  Stay-at-Homes,  and  you  readily  see  the  folly 
of  worry. 

But  brilliant  individualists  cannot  accomplish  what 
has  been  done  at  Camp  Lewis.  It  must  be  teamwork,  a 
type  of  labor,  generally,  as  un-American  as  I.  W.  W.'s. 
As  in  football,  the  game  is  won  by  the  side  which  is  one, 
not  eleven,  and  the  successful  coach  is  he  who  reduces  his 
number  to  that  common  denominator,  making  every 
player  one-eleventh  of  one.  Col.  Field  is  that  coach  for 
the  Division,  and  Col.  Northington  for  Base  Hospital,  and 
the  score  for  the  first  five  months  of  Camp  Lewis  stood 
52  to  50,000 ! 

Pneumonia!  Not  a  moment  is  lost  rushing  him  to 
a  ward  where  wonderful  cures  are  made  and  experts 
grow  more  expert  every  day,  for  they  treat  such  numbers. 
Comparison,  as  Col.  Field  points  out,  is  great  opportunity, 
especially  in  Pneumonia  and  Meningitis,  the  Compensation 
in  self-growth  for  the  sacrifice  which  physicians  and  sur- 
geons of  the  rank  of  these  make  in  foregoing  lucrative 
practices  to  work  like  slaves  for  paltry  salaries. 

Yellow  fever  and  typhoid  have  been  annihilated,  as 
pneumonia  and  meningitis,  disease  Huns  of  today,  will  be. 
Pneumonia  is  a  race  with  death,  every  second  counts,  so  a 
man  is  rushed  to  the  hospital  where  immediately  his  sputum, 
urine,  and  blood  from  his  arm  are  submitted  to  a  laboratory 
expert  that  cultures  can  be  made,  for  a  serum  which  con- 
quers one  of  the  four  forms  of  pneumonia  has  no  effect  upon 
the  others,  and  the  phase  can  only  be  known  by  inoculating 
young  rabbits  bred  for  the  purpose.  Rabbits  are  mercifully 
especially  susceptible  to  pneumonia.  White  mice  develop 
it  even  more  quickly  but  are  not  now  obtainable  as  the 


CAMP   LEWIS  47 

fad  for  them  as  pets  has  passed — strange  connection  be- 
tween fashion  and  death !  Six  hours  is  the  record  of  tests 
thus  far,  but  they  hope  soon  to  inject  a  serum  obtained 
from  the  patient  himself  into  his  arm.  The  serum  now 
used  is  drawn  from  horses  that  have  been  inoculated  wil;h 
pneumonia  germs  which,  introduced  into  their  blood,  im- 
mediately set  upon  the  destroyers.  The  survivors  are  used 
as  vaccine.  The  weakest  pneumonia  form  demands  twenty- 
five  percent  of  human  life;  the  strongest,  lung  germs, 
fifty-six  per  cent.  Lieut.  Rockey  has  recently  obtained  won- 
derfully satisfactory  results  in  draining  pus  after  pneu- 
monia by  an  original  device  for  connecting  an  ordinary 
water-pipe  running  from  the  ceiling  down  the  wall  behind 
each  bed,  with  a  small  rubber  tube  which,  kept  inserted  in 
the  incision  day  and  night,  discharges  the  pus  into  a  bottle 
containing  disinfectant  standing  beneath  the  bed.  Thus 
a  uniform,  constant  suction,  painless,  is  produced  and  is 
regulated  at  the  faucet  of  the  ordinary  water  pipe  in  a 
sink  to  which  all  are  connected.  A  glass  tube  partly 
water  filled,  indicates  the  force,  which  is  eighteen  inches, 
producing  a  partial  vacuum.  Men  of  the  Ninety-first 
unfortunate  enough  to  be  attacked  by  pneumonia,  which 
would  happen  anywhere,  are  fortunate  in  benefiting  by 
advance  science. 

Base  Hospital  has  done  wonders  in  pneumonia  and 
in  meningitis.  A  young  lieutenant  taken  there,  paralyzed 
by  its  fearful  suffering,  is  not  only  alive,  but  able  to  return 
to  his  company.  Capt.  C.  S.  Wilson  handles  these  two 
diseases,  largely,  and  performs  autopsies  which  will  fur- 
nish from  the  dead  advice  to  the  living. 

One  expert,  working  entirely  gratis,  and  not  even 
listed  with  the  staff,  is  called  upon  to  assist  them  all, 
Dr.  Climate.  If  the  pneumonia  patients  on  those  screened 
porches  had  been  attacked  in  the  East  during  this  last 
Winter,  they  would  literally  have  frozen  out  of  doors, 
yet  it  is  the  open  they  must  have.  Most  of  the  "epidemics" 

are  in  porch  wards. 

********** 

And  don't  you  think  for  one  minute  that  because  the 
nearly  two  hundred  buildings  are  unpainted,  that  hospital 


48  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

is  anything  but  the  last  word  in  plan  and  equipment. 
Not  the  most  noted  in  New  York  City  is  superior,  because 
it  has  the  latest  and  best  of  everything  at  any  price,  down 
to  the  eminent  personnel. 

The  wards  have  concrete  bases  and  ridgepole  ventila- 
tion without  drafts.  Windows  close  together  admit  light, 
sun,  and  beautiful  views  of  its  sixty  acres  at  the  canton- 
ment's edge.  Beds  and  bedding  are  of  the  best,  and  the 
hospital's  own  steam  laundry  furnishes  clean  linen  every 
day.  Every  unit  has  an  office  with  man  in  charge,  a 
ward,  a  two-man  room,  diet  kitchen,  with  lavatories, 
shower  baths,  bathroom,  and  a  linen  closet  which  would 
do  your  heart  good,  mother;  towels  are  even  pretty,  with 
that  comforting  Caduceus  woven  into  the  blue  border. 
Everything  is  immaculate.  Wards  are  heated  with  hot 
water  brought  underground  from  the  hospital  power 
house,  180  degrees  water.  Were  you  as  warm  this  Winter, 
Home  Folks?  Surely  not  back  East,  where  schools  closed 
and  elevators  stopped,  and  well-to-do's  had  only  a  kitchen 
fire,  for  lack  of  coal. 

All  buildings  are  connected  by  broad,  railed,  roofed, 
lighted  corridors,  which  can  be  traversed  by  invalid  chairs 
or  stretchers  borne  by  husky  orderlies,  enlisted  men,  for 
more  than  two  miles,  without  leaving  them,  all  level  with 
ward  doors.  Attaches  of  the  regimental  infirmaries  and 
this  base  wear  the  Caduceus,  and  privates  a  maroon  and 
white  cord  around  their  service  hats.  They  do  the  lifting, 
the  ordinary  work,  go  to  the  diet  kitchen  for  patients' 
meals,  serve  them,  etc.  Convalescents  who  are  able  help, 
too.  They  cannot  be  said  to  resemble  assistant  angels  of 
mercy,  attired  in  Turkish  toweling  bath  robes  over  pajamas 
of  outing  flannel,  hoods  ditto,  and  bedroom  slippers.  Some, 
with  faces  nearly  covered  with  dressings  like  masks, 
resemble  a  curious  order  of  Monks. 

When  Son  arrives,  his  underwear  is  sent  to  the  laun- 
dry, his  uniform  to  the  disinfecting  building,  and  he 
receives  a  ticket.  When  discharged,  all  are  returned, 
sanitary,  to  him. 

The  hospital  has  its  own  telephone  exchange,  every 
building  connected.  It  has  a  private  telegraph  and  postoffice, 


CAMP  LEWIS  49 

its  own  post  exchange  where  Son  can  buy  most  things,  be 
shaved,  play  billiards,  have  clothes  repaired,  etc.;  its  own 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  where  convalescents  may  sit  about  in  their  robes, 
playing  games,  writing,  playing  piano  or  phonograph, 
smoke,  or  take  down  one  of  the  500  volumes  from  the 
Camp  Library,  changed  often.  There  are  gift  pictures 
on  the  walls.  One  shows  you,  Mother,  seated  at  a  table 
with  Son's  photo  against  a  pot  of  flowers.  You  are  read- 
ing the  very  letter  he  wrote  you  here  yesterday;  see  the 
red  triangle  on  the  paper?  It's  on  all  the  Y.  M.  stationery 
given  those  well  enough  to  write,  or  carried  to  the  bed- 
sides and  there  written  to  order  by  his  "private  secretary" 
—well,  he  is  a  private  and  he  is  a  Y.  M.  secretary.  This 
room  tides  Son  over  the  hardest  confinement,  that  of  con- 
valescence. While  I  think  of  it,  the  Base  Hospital  has 
just  established  another  new  feature,  a  Convalescent  Camp 
for  the  guests  who  hitherto  taxed  their  hospitality,  being 
too  well  to  stay  and  too  weak  to  go  back  to  the  arduous 
life  of  the  barrack,  and  who  sang  with  feeling  "/  don't 
want  to  get  well,  I'm  in  love  with  a  beautiful  nurse." 

To  return  to  the  Y.  M.  hall,  there's  always  some  one 
to  talk  to,  foolery,  music.  He  is  not  preached  at,  he  need 
not  even  read  the  mottoes,  but  it  is  likely  they  will  hang, 
unseen,  on  the  walls  of  his  dug-out  in  France.  Perhaps 
it  was  Son  who  copied  them  for  me.  They  are  a  gift  from 
school  children  in  Sumner,  nicely  printed  upon  cardboard. 
No  man  is  free  who  is  not  master  of  himself. — Eva  Scott. 
Do  little  things  now;  so  shall  big  things  come  to  thee  by 
and  by,  asking  to  be  done. — Bertha  Webb.  Impatient  people 
water  their  miseries  and  hoe  up  their  comforts. — Ruth 
Purvis.  //  you  can't  do  anything  else  to  help  along,  just 
smile. — Eleanor  Kirk.  Happiness  is  a  matter  of  habit: 
Gontract  it. — Margaret  Renaud.  There  were  others,  but  the 
very  best,  printed  by  Lwearri  Lorenso,  you  will  find  just 
after  Gen.  Greene's  picture,  for  it  must  have  been  written 
with  him  in  mind.  Thank  heaven  there  is  always  some- 
thing funny,  and  this,  recalling  the  Kaiser,  is  IT :  There  is 
nothing  so  kingly  as  kindness,  and  nothing  so  royal  as 
truth.  Neva  Parker  never  thought  of  ridicule  when  she 

§  5 


50  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

printed,  Count  that  day  lost  in  which  you  have  not 
laughed.  The  soldiers  enjoy  the  joke  books,  too,  which 
school  children  made. 

Evenings,  there  is  music  among  themselves  or  visiting 
talent,  even  boxing  bouts.  There's  a  young  colored  boy 
who  used  to  travel  one  of  the  circuits  who  is  in  demand  at 
smokers  all  over  the  cantonment.  "He  is  sure  the  funniest 
thing  that  ever  happened.  He  told  this  one  night:  Bill 
saluted  me  and  the  Corp.  said  he  shouldn't  of.  Bill  says 
the  Sergeant  told  him  to  salute  all  standards  and  colors." 

Then  in  the  hospital  tailor  shop  there's  a  mild-looking 
fire-eater,  a  very  devil  of  a  fellow  though,  when,  dressed 
in  his  Mephistopholies  old  suit,  he  spits  flames  and  eats  red- 
hot  coals,  and  all  that,  as,  in  fact,  I  have  seen  the  Eskimos 
do  'way  up  on  Bering  Sea.  This  soldier,  E.  E.  Barnes, 
covered  much  of  the  world  when  'for  twelve  years  he 
traveled,  "eating  fourteen  kinds  of  fire."  Now  he  distracts 
the  weary  hours  of  his  comrades'  pain  with  his  "art." 
Truly  we  have  given  of  many  things  for  this  war,  given 
and  received,  so  that  all  are  richer,  another  compensation. 

Of  necessity,  Doctors'  lectures  and  everything  else  was 
held  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  hall  until  April,  when  officers'  and 
nurses'  quarters  were  built,  the  hospital's  capacity  doubled, 
and  a  pleasant  assembly  hall  with  a  fireplace,  such  as  every 
other  unit  on  the  cantonment  had  long  enjoyed,  was  fin- 
ished and  if  the  doctors  ever  do  have  a  minute,  it  will 

probably  be  spent  there. 

********** 

As  the  airplane  is  the  eye  of  the  army,  the  X-Ray  is 
the  eye  of  the  hospital,  peering  into  a  man's  very  heart. 
There  is  no  better  equipped  X-Ray  department  on  earth 
than  Camp  Lewis',  and  Capt.  F.  E.  Diemer  is  bright  enough 
to  be  distinguished  in  it,  by  turning  strong  light  into  at 
least  two  hitherto  dark  corners.  He  has  contrived,  though 
he  insists  it  is  a  composite  idea,  what  will  prove  a  moving 
picture  of  a  stomach — this  is  neither  a  joke  nor  a  sea 
story — a  stomach  showing  action  and  reaction,  caught  in 
the  very  act  of  digestion  or  indigestion.  One  of  the  men 
in  the  developing  room  is  a  mechanician.  Obtaining  a 


CAMP   LEWIS  51 

three  days'  furlough  he  went  home  and  made  this  model, 
which  is  held  up  till  payday  for  attaching.  It  is  a  box 
in  three  sections,  fastened  to  the  wall  at  standing  height, 
with  two  electric  wires  attached.  In  the  first  compart- 
ment are  many  photographic  plates,  bits  of  wood  at  pres- 
ent; in  the  middle  part,  the  plate  to  be  pictured.  You 
pull  a  slide,  this  plate  opens  into  the  third  section,  and 
another  from  the  first  automatically  takes  its  place.  The 
man,  stripped  to  the  waist,  stands  with  his  stomach  before 
the  middle  plate  and  the  X-Ray  machine  behind  his  back. 
Barium  prevents  the  ray  from  "taking"  beyond  the 
stomach  under  discussion,  as  barium  is  impervious  to  the 
ray.  A  picture  can  be  made  a  second.  Think  how  val- 
uable to  science  such  a  series  thrown  upon  a  screen  would 
be,  but  it  makes  a  layman  feel  "sort  of  sick  at  the  stomach." 

Another  bit  of  original  work  done  in  the  X-Ray  depart- 
ment is  in  computations  of  the  heart  area  and  weight, 
with  and  without  blood,  in  normal  and  in  abnormal  hearts. 
Again  that  eager  word  Comparison,  no  richer  place  for  it 
in  all  the  world  than  right  here,  says  Capt.  Diemer.  They 
have  thousands  of  large  negatives  in  which  to  compare  all 
this,  and  they  photograph  many  dead  hearts,  too,  which 
have  ceased  from  troubling.  Upon  these  plates  they  pencil 
a  line  around  the  organ  and  compute  its  area  with  the 
same  little  instrument  which  a  surveyor  uses  to  bring 
his  acres  down  to  scale.  L.  A.  Wadsworth,  formerly  of 
Physics  in  the  University  of  California,  is  working  with 
Capt.  Diemer  along  this  line. 

Then  there's  W.  J.  Slater,  born  and  bred  in  Tacoma,  a 
star  among  Stadium  High's  300  on  the  service  flag.  Slater 
enlisted  from  the  U.  of  W.  He  works  the  Ultra- Violet  ray 
machine  with  a  devotee's  joy.  All  sun-rays  are  good  doc- 
tors, but  the  U.  V.  is  a  specialist  in  skin  diseases,  persistent 
sores,  foreign  growths,  even  portwine  birthmarks  con- 
sidered ineradicable,  and  in  humbling  proud  flesh.  The 
U.  V.  cured  a  Lieutenant,  in  only  a  score  of  treatments, 
of  tropical  ulcer  on  his  leg,  the  result  of  Oriental  service, 
and  which  many  doctors  had  not  helped.  The  Ultra 
Violet  ray  lies  beyond  the  seen  violet  of  the  rainbow;  un- 


52  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

seen  powers  are  strongest.  Within  a  hemisphere  of  alumi- 
num is  a  quartz  tube  filled  with  mercury  which  vaporizes 
when  the  ray  passes  through  the  quartz — glass  would 
hold  it — when  the  electric  current  is  turned  on.  This 
tube  shines  like  the  sun  and  its  light  has  exactly  the 
effect  of  sun  at  great  altitudes,  only  more  applicable,  so 
that  Son  is  treated  by  a  four-hundred-dollar  actinic  ray, 
instead  of  living  at  Alpine  heights  for  costly  exposures, 
or  suffering  along  with  stubborn  ills.  Under  the  hemi- 
sphere comes  up  another  half  to  cover  the  intense  light 
except  where  allowed  to  strike  the  affected  part.  A 
soldier,  eye  and  ear  protected  with  cotton,  was  sitting  be- 
fore it,  he  takes  it  but  three  minutes  at  first,  increasing 
generally  to  nine,  never  more  than  fifteen,  twice  or  thrice 
a  week,  with  no  sensation  whatever  at  the  time.  Hours 
after  there  is  a  burning,  and  the  skin  may  peel,  there  are 
three  of  these  rare  machines  at  Base  Hospital,  one  with 
an  attachment  for  treatment  of  small  areas.  They  have 
accomplished  wonders  already,  and  the  field  of  their  cures 
extends  daily. 

In  four  months  the  X-ray  department  took  3,500  plates, 
everyone  labeled,  name,  date,  particulars,  recorded,  then 
stored  for  reference  in  pension  applications,  etc.  From 
them  hundreds  of  lantern  slides  are  made  to  illustrate 
doctors'  lectures,  which  may  be  attended  by  outsiders,  and 
are  extremely  interesting.  There  are  unlimited  opportuni- 
ties for  education  and  advance  at  Camp  Lewis. 

As  Capt.  Diemer  showed  the  large  plates,  he  chuckled 
over  one,  nothing  unusual  with  this  all-alive  expert.  "No, 
I'll  not  tell  you  the  joke.  Yes,  it's  too  good  to  keep,  and 
on  three  perfectly  good  doctors,  too.  See  the  spot  on  top 
this  stomach?  The  man  had  once  been  stabbed  thereabouts, 
was  suffering  again,  and  a  consultation  was  held.  They 
sent  him  to  be  X-rayed  to  settle  the  matter.  This  spot 
decided  them  that  the  knife  had  pierced  the  liver.  Now 
that  spot  happens  to  be  a  picture  of  the  gas  bubble  that, 
you  know,  floats  on  top  of  everybody's  stomach" — never 
heard  of  it,  but  didn't  say  so,  having  already  admitted  as 
much  ignorance  as  seemed  advisable.  Of  course  Capt. 


CAMP   LEWIS  53 

Diemer  didn't  enlighten  the  soldier,  but  showed  him  other 
plates  with  similar  floating  islands  when  the  man  ex- 
claimed, "Well,  now,  what  do  you  know  about  that?  All 
these  guys  stabbed  exactly  where  I  was;  ain't  it  funny?" 
It  was,  too  funny  to  keep  to  himself  and  three  learned 
doctors,  or  even  with  me  added,  in  a  world  as  solemn  as 
this  one's  growing. 

The  X-ray  has  taken  hundreds  of  dental  plates — no 
pun.  The  glass  is  placed  in  the  mouth.  This  shows  a 
double  impaction  of  the  molars — why  don't  you  know 
what  that  means?  (I  didn't  either)  two  teeth,  instead  of 
doing  their  part  of  the  everyday  grind  had  literally  "laid 
down  on  the  job,"  and  grown  together  under  the  gum,  top 
to  top.  The  soldier  suffered  with  severe  headaches,  diag- 
nosis saw  no  reason.  This  picture  was  taken  and  the 
question  answered  in  the  negative,  the  slackers  were  rooted 
out.  Many  hidden  anatomical  mysteries  these  speaking 
likenesses  reveal.  The  X-ray  is  the  airplane  of  the  medi- 
cal army,  and  like  everything  else  at  Camp  Lewis,  is  not 
only  in  the  superlative  degree,  but  adds  to  the  firsts. 


The  Base  Hospital  staff  lacks  one  widely  known,  Dr. 
Everlasting  Sawbones.  Before  operations  are  resorted 
to,  Orthopedy  is — No,  nothing  to  do  with  handwriting,  nor, 
necessarily  with  feet.  Why  don't  you  look  it  up  yourself 
in  the  dictionary?  That's  what  I  did. 

"But  it  says  just  straight  and  child,  and  the  Base  isn't 
a  child's  hospital." 

Well,  all  soldiers  have,  so  to  speak,  descended  from 
children,  haven't  they?  Sometimes  500  a  day  visit  the 
Orthopedic  ward  for  corrections  of  bone  and  joint  defects, 
ankle  and  foot  deformities,  strained  spines,  and  all  that 
which  manipulation  often  cures;  if  not,  surgery. 

Dr.  E.  A.  Rich  of  Tacoma  was  a  pioneer  in  treating 
these  born-in  troubles  with  "that  divine  tool"  the  hand, 
and  its  works,  succeeding  even  with  children  who  had 
never  walked.  He  was  Rich  in  helpfulness  before  he  en- 
listed his  skill  as  a  Lieutenant  at  Camp  Lewis  hospital. 


54  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Soon,  as  Capt.  Rich,  he  had  charge  of  two  wards  with 
80  regular  patients.  Such  men  as  Lt.  Col.  Starr,  of  the 
Imperial  Canadian  service,  himself  an  orthopedic  special- 
ist, waxed  enthusiastic  over  his  originality,  scope,  success. 
So  now  Camp  Lewis  has  lost  him,  first,  the  War  Depart- 
ment appointed  him  supervisor  of  orthopedics  over  the 
Southern  and  Western  departments  of  the  army,  every- 
thing West  of  the  Mississippi  and  South,  sixteen  camps  and 
forts.  His  one  regret  was  not  going  with  the  91st  Division, 
his  first,  to  France.  And  now  Major  Rich  has  gone  to 
Washington  to  assist  in  the  office  of  the  Surgeon-General 
of  the  Army  in  the  War  Department. 

Mother,  are  you  not  thankful  Son  is  rid  of  that  thorn  in 
the  flesh  which  has  worried  him  since  boyhood?  He  has  been 
treated  by  an  authority,  the  unsuspected,  perhaps,  discov- 
ered, and  costly  cure  effected  without  cost.  There  are  many 
compensations  for  losses  in  this  war.  One  will  be  the 
physical  uplift  of  our  entire  man-force  which  means  the 
next  and  into  the  third  and  fourth  generation.  Dr.  Rich  was 
formerly  Tacoma  Health  Officer.  So  was  Doctor,  now 
Captain  Sargentich.  When  the  war  broke  out,  he  hastened 
to  Serbia,  his  native  country,  though  Tacoma  had  been  his 
home  many  years.  He  served  supermanfully  combatting 
typhus  in  an  unequipped  hospital,  untrained  old  men  for 
nurses,  three  or  four  assisting  doctors,  600  and  700  pa- 
tients, the  dead  often  unburied  because  the  countryside 
had  not  enough  men  strong  enough  to  dig  graves.  Only 
in  that  great  Account  Book  will  it  ever  be  set  down, 
every  horror  itemized.  Sufficient  that,  in  a  country  of 
heroes,  Sargentich  was  accounted  a  hero.  He  was  in 
that  terrible  Serbian  Retreat,  constantly  inspiring  the 
suffering;  prescient  was  the  mother  who  named  him 
Spiro.  Severely  wounded,  he  returned  to  this  coun- 
try and  gave  many  Red  Cross  talks  while  crossing  the 
States.  The  very  night  our  entrance  into  the  war  was 
declared,  he  was  speaking  at  the  Tacoma  Hotel.  It  was 
an  awed  and  strained  audience  with  "extras"  in  their 
hands,  that  hung  upon  his  simple,  forceful  words.  Sar- 
gentich enlisted  at  once  and  later  Camp  Lewis  and  the 


CAMP   LEWIS  55 

91st  gained  another  great  man.  This  inadequate  tribute 
to  Sargentich  gains  from  the  quiet  words  of  a  fellow  Ser- 
bian at  this  very  hospital.  I  was  sitting  at  the  bedside 
of  Bosko  Samarazich"  who  fought  through  the  first  years 
of  the  war,  was  with  the  heroic  Serbian  army  in  Mace- 
donia, had  been  wounded  five  times.  I  saw  where  the 
shrapnel  had  torn  his  head,  the  finger  from  which  a  rifle 
had  taken  half,  but  the  worst  was  the  hole  in  his  leg 
where  the  dum-dum  had  exploded.  Oh  yes,  he  would  be 
quite  fit  if  the  Division  went  over.  He  had  come  to 
Montana  to  visit  a  brother  while  recovering.  He  could 
have  been  exempted.  Had  he  not  done  his  share?  Did  he 
really  wish  to  go  back?  His  face  wore  the  detached  look 
one  notes  upon  the  faces  of  all  who  have  descended  into 
that  Hell.  His  eyes  were  steely  but  he  tonelessly  replied, 
"I  must  return.  My  brothers  were  killed  fighting  in  the 
Serb  army  so  only  I  remain  to  remember  my  two  sisters, 
who  with  their  friends  in  our  village  were — finally — locked 
into  the  church  and  burned  to  death.  I  am  fast  recover- 
ing, I  cannot  be  discharged". 

I  asked  this  man  if  he  knew  anything  of  Sargentich, 
his  eyes  glowed.  "He  dressed  my  wounds  on  the  retreat. 
I  traveled  the  whole  two  hundred  miles  on  crutches," 
this  in  quite  a  casual  tone.  No  wonder  the  soldier  in 
the  next  bed  stopped  grunting. 


Some  men  seem  to  possess  an  almost  uncanny  power 
of  diagnosis,  the  day  is  past  for  treating  an  ailment 
for  anything  it  resembles,  until,  the  patient  not  first 
succumbing,  the  right  is  blundered  upon. 

When  the  Department  asked  the  services  of  Dr.  Sippy 
of  Rush,  Chicago,  considered  leading  authority  upon  stom- 
ache  and  intestinal  disorders,  he  said  he  was  too  old  for 
army  work,  but  he  would  spare  his  first  assistant,  another 
case  of  "just  as  good"  substitution.  No  one  could  accuse 
him  of  being  too  old,  for  he  looks  boyish  even  for  his 
thirty-one  years,  so  it  is  Lieut  W.  H.  Stutsman — be  it 
said  in  passing  that  a  doctor  cannot  be  appointed  captain 


56 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


*    #' 
i 


f  /   f 


Photo  by  Parish  &  Smith 


MEDICAL    CORPS    OF 


before  35,  though  he  may  be  promoted  to  next  rank  be- 
fore. 

Another  young  man,  Capt.  Kenneth  Staniford,  is 
to  be  found  at  the  head  of  the  laboratory  service,  another 
kind  of  diagnosing  and  treating  in  one.  As  Lieutenant, 
he  was  here  at  the  first  and  began  laboratory  work  with 
two  helpers  under  a  tree.  Work  increased  till  he  begged 
the  mustering  office  to  secure  names  of  drafted  pharmac- 
ists, chemists,  anybody  who  could  help.  His  force  grew 
to  ten,  fifty  more  are  needed,  for  work  came  very  near 
being  a  "continuous  performance"  averaging  fourteen 
hours  a  day  for  five  months  without  a  solitary  day  off. 
And  all  the  doctors  work  the  same.  Capt.  Terry  admits 
that  he  is  "hopeful"  over  the  results  of  experiment  in  his 
laboratory  for  materially  reducing  the  time  of  tubercul- 


CAMP   LEWIS 


osis  development.  No  wonder  when  an  assistant  asked 
for  a  furlough  to  do  some  specializing  in  the  Rockefeller 
Institute,  Col.  Northington  told  Capt.  Staniford  that  the 
man  could  do  it  just  as  well  in  his  laboratory. 

Mother,  are  you  not,  again,  fortunate  in  having 
Son's  incipient  tuberculosis  discovered,  for  physicians 
agree  that  it  is  most  easily  and  permanently  cured  of 
disease,  if  early  detected,  and  Son  was  paying  no  heed.  At 
Camp  Lewis  he  is  brought  before  a  board  of  twenty 
specialists.  If  signs  of  "T.  B."  are  found,  a  guinea  pig, 
beneficently  susceptible  to  it,  is  inoculated.  The  president 
of  the  T.  B.  examining  board,  Dr.  Ray  Matson  is  twin 
brother  to  a  twin  expert,  so  alike  are  they,  that  the  picture 
of  the  one  in  the  group  is  the  portrait  of  the  other  who 


58  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

will  follow,  for  the  twins  have  "taken  turns"  ever  since 
graduation.  In  Portland,  the  doctors  Matson  are  medical 
directors  of  a  sanatorium,  in  charge  of  a  free  tuberculosis 
dispensary,  and  associate  professors  of  medicine  at  the 
University  of  Oregon.  All  that  is  a  trifle  misleading, 
should  be,  throughout,  singular, — and  is — ,  for,  while  Dr. 
Ray  is  one  of  all  that,  Dr.  Ralph  is  working  in  some  clinic 
abroad  for  a  year;  and  when  Dr.  Ralph  returns,  Dr.  Ray 
takes  his  year  off.  So  alike  in  person,  voice,  skill  and 
ideas  are  they,  that  the  change  of  occupant  is  not  noticed. 
In  this  cut-and-dried  old  world,  isn't  that — whiffy?  Dr. 
Ray  was  doing  his  turn  in  Austria  when  war  broke  out, 
leaving  three  months  after,  so  it  was  the  other's  first 
chance  with  the  British  Expeditionary  Forces  in  France, 
doing  research  work  for  best  treatment  of  wounds,  at 
Hospital  13,  and  Huns  for  enemies !  Dr.  Ralph  was  hardly 
seated  before  Ray  was  at  Vancouver  Barracks  in  August, 
and  October  2  found  him  at  Camp  Lewis.  This  T.  B. 
board  has  examined  40,000  men  within  the  last  six  months. 
Humanly  speaking  they  are  responsible  for  their  deduc- 
tions. If  Son  is  retained  he  will  be  cured.  It  is  not  hope- 
less if  he  is  discharged,  may  mean  it  would  take  too  long 
to  cure,  for  every  minute  counts  and  every  soldier  must 
be  one  hundred  per  cent  effective.  Is  not  this  allied  at- 
tack against  the  great  White  Plague  a  war  compensation? 
'Twill  do  more  to  relegate  it  to  the  oblivion  of  the  Black 

Death  than  a  century  of  desultory,  spasmodic  effort. 
********** 

A  soldier  must  see  and  hear  perfectly.  Every  vital 
organ  is  worthy  a  man's  life  study.  The  poor  unresting 
heart  in  Capt.  Kerr's  field.  He  and  other  specialists 
aided  by  X-Rays,  have  examined  500  beating  hearts  at 
Camp  Lewis  and  rejected  half  from  war  service.  Capt.  E. 
C.  Wheeler  could  probably  operate  upon  tonsils  in  the 
dark,  he  removes  an  average  of  150  a  week.  Maj.  Roberts 
is  head  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat  department. 

Late  years  have  shown  that  teeth  play  a  very  import- 
ant part  in  health.  Many  a  soldier  has  been  ordered  to 
the  chair  and  approached  it  with  all  the  dread  which  he 


CAMP  LEWIS  59 

would  feel  toward  the  electric  chair,  which  indeed,  it  is, 
with  the  latest  electrical  dental  appliances.  Uncle  Sam 
only  draws  the  line  at  gold  fillings  and  gas  exemption  from 
extraction  pains,  otherwise,  without  money  and  without 
price  one  may  have  his  teeth  put  in  perfect  condition. 
Wish  I  had  an  Uncle  Sam.  I  have  heard  only  two  com- 
plaints about  the  hospital:  one  corporal  who  used  to  take 
men  there  in  the  beginning  said  he  had  seen  a  whole 
line  receive  white  pills  from  the  same  bottle;  and  another 
said  he  thought  most  of  the  dentists  were  first  class,  and 
kind,  but  that  one  of  them  removed  an  old  filling  "with 
a  tack  hammer  and  chisel,  and  I  took  the  next  tooth  to  a 
dentist  in  Tacoma  who  seemed  to  guess  I  was  part  human." 
The  dental  outfit  goes  with  the  Division  too,  packed  small 
like  the  Field  hospital,  with  all  that  suffices  to  bring  a  man 
trembling  to  the  chair,  who  had  rushed  without  a  tremor, 
Over  the  Top.  Another  compensation:  better  digestions 
and  smiles  and  more  reason  for  them.  A  dental  infirm- 
ary was  opened  in  April.  Twenty-six  dental  surgeons  will 
occupy  the  structure,  caring  for  all  the  men  in  camp,  save 
those  belonging  to  the  depot  brigade.  Serious  cases,  re- 
quiring that  the  patient  go  to  the  hospital  following  opera- 
tion, will  still  be  handled  in  the  dental  surgery  ward  at 

the  base  hospital. 

%%*%***         *** 

Major  H.  J.  Whitacre  is  a  physician  whose  rise  has 
been  rapid.  As  commander  of  the  Tacoma  Yacht  Club 
I  had  seen  him  running  his  motor  boat  on  the  Fourth. 
Soon  after  he  entered  the  service  as  Lieutenant  at  Camp 
Lewis,  and  now  he  is  Major  and  head  of  the  Surgery  De- 
partment. Many  soldiers  have  suffered  from  impedi- 
ments which  operation  would  remove.  These  are  sent  to 
Base  Hospital  to  surgeons  who  have  no  betters  in  famous 
hospitals  nor  private  practice.  Think  what  this  would 
cost  outside,  loss  of  business,  the  hospital  and  that  fear- 
ful surgeon's  bill,  which  would  rustle  till  the  patient 
could  sleep  never  a  wink  the  pain-filled  night.  The  Operat- 
ing rooms  have  the  best  of  equipment  and  the  surgeon 
most  expert  in  that  particular  ailment,  who  performs  so 


60  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

many,  that  the  experience  of  hundreds  of  ordinary  sur- 
geons clings  to  his  fingers,  operates.  The  patient  is  taken 
to  a  cheerful  ward,  nursed  by  a  white-clad  woman,  and 
he  hears  np  rustling  bills. 

Negroes  are  gone  now,  but  the  fun  they  made  lingers. 
A  convalescent  says  he  grew  fat  over  two  darkies  in  his 
ward.  The  minute  the  doctor  entered  to  dress  wounds, 
one  would  begin  to  howl  and  his  friend  to  respond  to  a 
curious  litany: 

"Lawd,  he's  a-comin',  have  mercy  on  me." 

*  *     *     "Do  it,  do  it,  have  mercy." 

"Golly,  he's  most  here,  Ah  need  you,  Gawd,  bad!" 

*  *     *     "He  sure  do,  Gawd,  he  sure  do." 
"He'll  kill  me,  it'll  hurt,  Gawd." 

*  *     *     "Dat's  de  truf,  Gawd,  you  bet  it'll  hurt." 

Speaking  of  negroes  reminds  one  of  mules.  Their  bites 
are  the  most  frequent  cause  of  hospital  attention.  Mules 
don't  like  white  men,  which  is  tit  for  tat.  "Persistent  as  a 
mule,"  recalls,  beg  pardon,  Harold  Broomell,  a  young 
Tacoma  lawyer  who  started  to  enlist.  Started  is  correct, 
for,  although  he  otherwise  passed  high  physically,  his  eyes 
precluded  admission.  He  made  one  application  after  an- 
other in  the  army ;  then  the  navy.  At  last  he  went  to  talk 
with  Major  Northington,  told  him  he  surely  could  be 
useful  there,  and  the  Major  wrote  to  Washington  for  per- 
mission to  take  him  on.  This  received,  the  delighted  ap- 
plicant entered  service  October  1.  Inside  a  month  it  was 
First  Sergt.  Broomell.  He  has  had  charge  of  several 
wards,  was  head  of  Convalescent  Camp  No.  2,  and  has 
recently  been  the  head  of  the  Receiving  Ward.  More  than 
that,  his  wish  for  overseas  service  is  to  be  gratified  after 
all,  and  he  has  been  detailed  to  Hospital  Unit  No.  93,  with 
a  commission  in  sight.  "They  also  serve  who  only  stand 
and  wait" — Milton.  "They  also  serve  who  really  stick  and 
hustle" — Broomell. 

Service  is  various,  though.  Mountaineers  have  turned 
their  club  to  army  use  by  gathering  and  preparing  wagon 


CAMP   LEWIS  61 

loads  of  spagnum  moss  from  bogs.  It  is  said  to  be  more 
absorbent  than  surgical  cotton  whose  price  is  aviating. 

One  cannot  think  of  surgery  at  the  cantonment  with- 
out speaking  of  the  doctors  Rockey.  Forfeiting  a  surgical 
practice  of  many  thousands  a  year  and  a  coast-length 
reputation,  the  father,  Captain  E.  A.  and  son  Captain 
Paul,  are  surgeons,  and  the  other  son,  Lieutenant  Eugene, 
physician.  All  three  wear  khaki  for  the  duration  of  the 
war,  and  hope  to  go  with  the  Ninety-first  to  France. 

Fine  physicians  are  they  all,  yet  "it  is  what  they  have 
achieved  in  team  work."  The  Great  Physician,  in  His 
Book  on  Healing,  devotes  an  entire  chapter  to  teamwork, 
originally  addressed  to  a  graduating  class  in  Corinth: 

"Now  there  are  diversities  of  gifts  *  *  * 
of  administrations  *  *  *  of  operations,  and 
the  manifestation  of  the  Spirit  is  given  to  every 
man  to  profit  withal.  *  *  *  For  the  body  is 
not  one  member,  but  many.  *  *  *  And  the 
eye  cannot  say  unto  the  hand,  I  have  no  need  of 
thee;  nor  again  the  head  to  the  feet,  I  have  no  need 
of  you,  nay  much  more  those  members  of  the  body 
which  seem  to  be  more  feeble  are  necessary  *  * 
*  tempered  together  *  *  *  that  there  should 
be  no  schism  *  *  *  whether  one  member  suffer, 
all  the  members  suffer  with  it.  Gifts  of  healing, 
helps,  government — Do  all  interpret?" 

So  much  space  devoted  to  this  subject,  yet  what  would 
you  have  omitted?  This  book  was  written  for  the  Ninety- 
first  Division  whose  womenkind  are  surely  "first-class 
privates,"  if  nothing  more,  in  this  great  war.  One  more 
reason  is  the  admission  of  an  officer,  captured  during  the 
terrific  offensive  of  April,  that  German  orders  commanded 
the  picking  off  of  all  surgeons,  as  one  was  worth  500 
soldiers. 


62  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER  V. 

RIGHT  FORWARD,  ARMY  NURSES — COMMANDING  OFFICER 
BOOTH — A  WOMAN'S  SERVICE —  GIFT  BEARERS — FIRST 
EASTER  OF  CAMP  LEWIS — CHAPLAIN  NEISEN  AND  MRS. 
THORNBERRY. 

Woman  has  always  been  the  sick  world's  nurse;  she 
always  will  be,  even  the  United  States  government  does 
not  deny  that,  though  being  Missourian  it  had  to  be  shown 
that  Honors,  beginning  capital  and  ending  s,  is  a  per- 
fectly proper  noun,  plural,  neuter,  forgetting  that  means 
sexless.  Now  at  Base  Hospital  the  hundreds  of  orderlies, 
fine  strapping  fellows  and  helpful  are  all  right  enough 
but  when  Son  is  really  ill  he  wants,  and  mother  must 
know  he  has,  the  natural  nurse,  a  woman,  patient,  sym- 
pathetic, trained.  Every  one  of  the  200  nurses  at  Camp 
Lewis — there  should  be  more,  one  to  every  ten  patients 
and  the  hospital  accommodates  over  4000 — is  a  graduate 
of  a  first  class  hospital.  In  cities  she  is  always  in  demand, 
highly  paid,  well  housed  and  fed.  She  has  sacrificed  to 
enlist  in  this  war  and  is  eager  for  orders  abroad.  You 
will  see  the  Caduceus  below  the  sergeant's  three-pointed 
chevron,  but  never  a  nurse  with  aught  but  the  Caduceus, 
not  even  the  Chief  Nurse.  I  threw  in  the  capitals  on  my 
own  responsibility.  Yet  in  England  army  nurses  are 
commissioned,  ranking  to  Major.  Miss  Booth,  chief  nurse 
remarked  hopefully  that  there  was  a  prospect  of  com- 
missioning nurses  in  this  country,  saying  modestly  that  it 
would  add  greatly  to  their  effectiveness.  "You  see  no 
one  can  be  100  per  cent  efficient  who  has  position  without 
authority.  The  orderlies  are  helpful,  generally  pleasant 
and  reasonable,  but  since  we  are  not  commissioned  our 
requests,  however  urgent,  are  not  orders.  If  the  men  dis- 
regard them,  there  is  only  appealing  to  an  officer  for  en- 


CAMP  LEWIS  63 

forcement.  That  is  apt  to  cause  delay  and  injury  to  the 
patient;  but  commissions  are  bound  to  come." 

Considering  this  and  other  drawbacks,  it  is  clear  that 
nurses  enlist  with  the  single  thought  of  service,  and  con- 
sidering the  Hun's  partiality  for  hospitals  and  hospital 
ships  as  targets,  and  for  women  as  worse,  it  seems  their 
heroism  might  attract  attention  given  only  to  women 
now  in  "Knit,  Knit!"  Heavens,  aren't  we  knitting?  Dur- 
ing this  war,  for  the  first  time,  women  will  be  nurses 
upon  hospital  ships. 

I  fear  if  Miss  Booth  happens  upon  this  outburst — 
purely  mine  and  highly  controlled — she  will  think  it  fol- 
lows too  closely  upon  her  quiet  "no"  to  the  query  about 
commissions.  And  her  faith  was  justified,  for  in  April 
the  War  Department  recognized  the  injustice,  especially 
as  thousands  of  trained  nurses  are  cried  for.  The  present 
Army  Nurse  Corps  was  not  organized  till  1901,  after 
the  Spanish-American  War  had  shown  us  many  short- 
comings. There  were  only  100  nurses  then;  when  our 
troops  went  to  the  border,  373;  today  there  are  8000, 
there  should  be  50,000.  Even  now  the  step  is  a 
short  one  in  making  the  head  nurse  of  a  ward  its  chief 
instead  of  a  male  ward  master,  and  the  chief  nurse  of  a 
military  hospital  has  but  one  superior  in  it,  the  Com- 
manding Officer.  Miss  Jenny  Booth  is  that  chief,  though 
as  yet  her  slender  shoulders  bear  only  the  Caduceus,  her 
clear,  direct  gray  eyes  and  quiet  force  are  a  leader's.  A 
graduate  of  Roosevelt  Hospital,  New  York  City,  Walter 
Reed,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  from  the  Presidio  here  in 
October,  it  is  France  she  hopes  for,  yet  it  is  good  to 
be  head  of  such  nurses,  young,  very  much  alive,  personal, 
so  to  speak,  picked  for  unusual  ability,  though  one  might 
think,  for  their  looks.  How  Sairy  Gamp  would  hate  those 
nurses.  No  wonder  as  one  of  the  patients  said,  "Fellows 
have  to  be  kicked  out  of  the  hospital.  It's  worth  shedding 
an  appendix  to  stay  here  awhile.  It's  all  of  home-y  after 
the  barracks.  Yes,  I  have  a  fountain  pen  in  my  bag." 
'Twould  have  been  odd  if  he  hadn't,  for  there  was  quite 
everything  that  a  boy's  pocket  would  hold.  These  bags 


64 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


are  the  thought  of  Mrs.  Greene  who,  with  everything  else 
she  does,  finds  time  for  a  visit  to  the  hospital  every  now 
and  then.  Noticing  the  bedridden  had  no  place  for  be- 
longings, she  contrived  a  bag  which  draws  up  and  with 
tapes  to  tie  it  to  the  head  of  the  bed.  The  Red  Cross 


MISS  JENNY  BOOTH,  CHIEF  OF  NURSES,  BASE  HOSPITAL 

section  which  Mrs.  Greene  directs  made  1000  of  these 
cretonne  bags  and  all  pretty.  The  men  never  fail  to  re- 
mark that  they  are  pretty:  men  are  so  much  more  human 
when  ill.  In  the  bags  hang  letters  from  the  S.  Y.  in  W. 
with  a  delicate  odor  of  tobacco  lingering  about  them,  the 
great  American  jack-knife — but  you  know  all  the  con- 
traptions, and  your  own  picture,  too,  mother — mother  dear. 


CAMP  LEWIS  65 

Camp  Lewis  has  beautiful  wild  greens  everywhere, 
someone  often  brings  in  the  cheery  things.  Wards  are 
immaculate,  only  the  thousands  of  radiators  are  black. 
There  are  miles  and  miles  of  pipe,  two  sets  of  boilers  and 
everything.  Surely  you  are  impressed  by  my  accuracy 
and  truthfulness,  which  I  am  aware  I  imperil  by  stating 
that  the  entire  Base  Hospital  plumbing  plant  cost  but 
$160,000  and  was  installed,  working,  without  repairs, 
within  ninety  days.  You  won't  believe  that,  I  don't  my- 
self, but  it's  true.  Why,  what  with  forgetting  first  one, 
then  another  necessary  tool,  returning  for  it,  placing 
radiators  in  wrong  corners,  laying  off  for  a  strike,  piping 
and  radiating  my  small  house,  and  repairing  when  it 
leaked  all  over  the  new  tinting,  took  longer  than  that, 
and  cost  much  more  than  $160,000.  We  all  know  that. 
But  I  mention  it  only  to  show  that  even  plumbers  are 
human,  and  that  when  war  sounds  its  mighty  bugle,  even 
rudimentary  souls  are  quickened. 

After  months  of  crowding,  both  physicians  and  nurses 
are  suitably  housed  and  have  pleasant  assembly  rooms 
with  fire  places  and  pretty  furniture.  The  nurse's  hard- 
wood living  room  floor  makes  their  dances  possible.  The 
pretty  chintz  curtains  were  all  made  and  given  by  Mrs. 
Douglas,  mother  of  Lieut.  Douglas,  those  in  the  old  quart- 
ers were  another  of  Mrs.  Greene's  gifts,  like  those  she 
made  for  the  General's  bungalow.  Mrs.  Rood  of  Seattle 
is  another  friend,  has  been  from  the  first.  It  occurred  to 
her  that  the  nurses  might  occasionally  like  to  mix  a 
fruit  punch  instead  of  a  mustard  plaster,  and  presented 
them  with  two  large  punch  bowls  and  a  hundred  glasses 
for  their  parties.  She  was  one  of  many  who  helped  to 
make  the  first  cantonment  Christmas  a  never-to-be-for- 
gotten day.  The  War  Department,  being  mere  men,  never 
thought  of  trays,  and  you  can't  very  well  eat  soup  on  a 
blanket.  By  going  from  shop  to  shop,  she  managed  to 
buy  five  hundred  trays,  the  Medical  Department  con- 
tributed sixty,  and  some  Tacoma  ladies  fifty  more  with 
some  pretty  china  dishes  for  the  very  sick  of  every  ward, 

§  6 


66  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

because  the  government,  not  being  sick  abed,  don't  know 
that  the  cup  of  cold  water,  if  the  cup  be  china,  becomes 
an  elixir  of  life  at  times.  All  government  dishes  are 
granite  ware.  When  you  can't  decide  about  wanting  to 
come  back  to  life,  that  granite  ware  settles  it  that  you 
don't. 

Another  Christmas  present  equally  appreciated  by 
both  patients  and  nurses  was  Mrs.  Greene's  three  dozen 
hot  water  bags.  Pending  the  uncoiling  of  red  tape,  they 
had  been  heating  bricks.  The  Los  Angeles  Graduate 
Nurses'  Association  knew  how  it  was  themselves;  their 
gift  to  the  war  nurses  was  twelve  dozen  linen  napkins. 

Miss  Booth  with  the  poet's  face  takes  house-wifely 
pride  in  the  linen  room  of  the  Administration  Building. 
Cascade  Red  Cross,  Great  Falls,  Montana,  sends  many 
gifts,  but  never  one  more  appreciated  than  dozens  of 
rag-woven  mop  cloths.  A  sensible  gift  was  a  large  box 
of  pads  to  support  aching  arms  or  knees,  to  give  just  the 
right  cool  lift  to  a  weary  head — all  sizes  and  shapes, 
pretty  and  bright  colored,  stuffed  with  rags — feathers 
always  "squash."  To  use  what  one  has,  in  the  size  and 
shape  it  is — the  Stadium  High  Schoolers,  making  bed 
slippers,  found  braid  scarce  and  hemmed  selvages.  They 
gained  much  more  than  the  price  of  braid.  They  sharp- 
ened their  wits  and  discredited  extravagance,  a  national 
sin.  The  irregular  pads  rank  with  the  six  down  pillows 
a  Tacoma  woman  sent,  and  the  three  hundred  eider  down 
bedroom  slippers  provided  neither  fun  nor  romance,  not 
to  mention  the  hemmed  dust  cloths.  They  are  all  of  the 
comforting  gifts  called  Such-es.  Don't  you  remember  Peter 
and  Paul  by  the  gate  called  Beautiful?  It  was  to  a  lame 
man,  Peter  said  it,  "Silver  and  gold  have  I  none,  but 
such  as  I  have,  give  I  unto  thee."  As  the  war  goes  on 
we  are  discovering  more  and  more  Such-es.  Some  of  us 
have  also  learned  to  say  frankly,  "I  am  poor,"  proving 
quite  as  good  as  Peter  in  that  respect.  The  mother  of  one 
nurse  mends  for  the  nurses,  that  they  may  recreate,  every 
Thursday;  yet  would  not  any  sane  person  rather  give  a 
hundred  dollars  than  mend? 


CAMP   LEWIS  67 

The  first  and  only  nurse's  aid  of  the  Red  Cross  at 
Camp  Lewis  is  Miss  Ethel  Allen,  daughter  of  Col.  S.  E. 
Allen,  Commander  of  the  North  Pacific  District  of  Coast 
Artillery,  stationed  at  Seattle.  She  wears  a  blue  cap  and 
veil,  showing  a  red  cross  on  a  white  field.  Regular  army 
nurses  wear  white,  with  navy  blue  cloth  capes  lined  with 


MISS  ETHEL  ALLEN,   FIRST  RED  CROSS  NURSE'S  AID 

red  for  out  of  doors.    Miss  Allen  is  taking  practical  train- 
ing, is  under  army  orders  and  will  go  overseas. 

Another  earnest  Red  Cross  worker  is  Mrs.  Rockey  who 
came  with  her  husband  to  the  camp  hoping  she  "might 
fit  in  somewhere".  Noting  that  the  diet  kitchen  needed 


68  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

just  her  special  training  in  domestic  science,  she  asked 
to  be  used  there  and  was  joyfully  accepted;  result,  another 
streak  of  good  luck  for  the  91st.  Mrs.  Hockey  is  not  only 
a  capable  woman,  but  an  enthusiast,  feeling  her  work  as 
integral  if  not  so  glorious  as  a  captain's,  since  a  head 
with  no  stomach  can't  think.  She  refines  what  is  menial 
into  an  art,  working  like  a  slave.  Today,  about  700  meals 
served  from  her  kitchen.  Tired?  A  little,  but  now  the 
patients  were  served  she  would  have  a  cup  of  tea  and  be 
quite  fit — a  man  who  was  discharged  because  of  diabetes, 
to  ask  if  Mrs.  Rockey  would  tell  him  how  to  diet  at  home; 
he  thought  she  wouldn't  mind.  One  would  see  in  her  noble 
face  that  he  was  quite  safe.  Anything  to  serve. 

Mrs.  Rockey  showed  a  huge  pantry,  its  shelves  yet 
bearing  some  of  two  and  a  quarter  tons  of  homemade  can- 
ned fruit  sent  by  Stanwood  women,  who  asked  to  have 
the  jars  returned  that  they  might  do  it  again.  Next  was 
a  large  bowl  of  floating  island — waste  no  sympathy  on 
"Son  in  the  hospital  and  I  not  there  to  cook  for  him." 
If  very  ill,  a  woman  government  dietician  is  working  out 
his  special  menu.  If  almost  ready  to  return  to  barracks, 
he  is  being  provided  for  in  a  huge  kitchen.  A  barrel  of 
potatoes  is  pared  at  once  by  machinery,  casting  forth  a 
bucket  every  two  minutes,  which  "K.  P.'s"  eye.  Ninety-five 
gallons  of  milk  are  used  every  day  at  the  Base,  tested 
by  the  laboratories,  no  watered  stock  here. 

A  few  visitors  to  this  wonderful  cantonment  call  upon 
the  sick.  A  small  coterie  of  Tacoma  friends  adopted  one 
of  the  surgical  patients'  wards;  the  envious  are  calling 
"mollycoddles!  curtains!  ash  trays!"  It  was  here  lay  the 
erstwhile  strongest  lightweight  of  the  world  with  his 
medals  to  prove  it,  too;  used  to  lie  upon  the  sawdust  ring, 
with  two  others,  a  board  across  their  bodies,  and  allow 
a  7,000-pound  automobile  to  go  over.  Saw  it  myself,  never 
dreaming  I  should  actually  talk  with  such  greatness,  nor 
live  "to  shake  the  hand  that  shook  the  hand  of  Sullivan", 
or  whatever  the  name  of  the  big  one  who  could  lift  2,000 
pounds  with  one  hand.  I  suddenly  giggled  and  he  gravely 
insisted.  It  wasn't  that,  but  a  recollection  of  a  fight 


CAMP   LEWIS  69 

brother  and  I  waged  a-many  years  ago  to  settle  whether 
or  no  "God  could  lick  Father  with  his  little  finger."  'Twas 
a  draw,  mother  interposed  with  face  set  against  both 
sacreligion  and  loyalty.  Back  across  the  decades  and  the 
continent  to  this  weak  strongman,  who  was  born  of  a 
Greek  father  and  a  French  mother  in  Athens;  speaks 
ancient  as  well  as  modern  Greek,  French  as  a  mother- 
tongue,  English  as  a  step-mother's.  He  is  eager  to  be 
off  for  France  with  the  361st  Machine  Guns.  Strange  to 
say,  when  he  landed  in  New  York  he  was  so  delicate  that 
he  trained  at  an  uncle's  athletic  club,  there  developing 
the  muscles  which  make  his  arm  feel  like  a  steel  cable. 

Almost  a  daily  visitor  is  Mrs.  McCrackin  of  Hostess 
House,  taking  over  flowers,  comfort,  fun,  messages  from 
"the  boys,"  writing  their  letters,  making  herself  a  dear 
little  errand  girl.  When  it  was  found  how  wonderfully 
half -masks  of  gauze,  worn  not  only  by  patients  and  nurses 
but  by  visitors  , decreased  germ  diseases,  she  cut  the 
creep-y  gauze  at  Hostess  House  and  enlisted  the  waiting 
women  to  make  them.  A  painted  lady  with  diamond-laden 
fingers,  a  sallow  woman  with  work-gnarled  hands,  a  pianist 
with  her  artist's  dexterity,  were  equally  interested  and 
busy.  Of  course  Mrs.  McCrackin  was  of  the  party  who 
celebrated  that  First  Easter  at  Camp  Lewis.  Mrs.  Greene 
and  Mrs.  Rood  had  provided  a  van-load  of  potted  lillies, 
spireas,  etc.,  and  masses  of  lovely  flowers.  The  acting  com- 
mandant of  the  hospital,  Major  Greene,  and  of  the  nurses, 
Miss  Booth,  joined  them,  and  Major-General  Greene  was 
quite  as  active  as  his  wife  in  the  cheer.  He  announced 
that  they  had  forgotten  to  invite  him  but  if  they  thought 
they  were  going  to  leave  him  out  they  were  sadly  mistaken. 
The  flowers  were  piled  on  operation  carriers  and  wheeled 
into  every  ward  where  choices  were  made.  Every  patient 
in  the  hospital  that  day  felt,  what  was  literally  true,  that 
every  member  of  the  party  was  a  friend  of  his  and  that 
Maj.  Gen.  Greene  really  felt,  what  he  has  said,  that  he  is 
at  least  a  step-father  to  all  his  men.  No  wonder  that  later 
in  the  day,  when  the  General  read  the  Easter  lesson  in 
the  beautiful  service  for  the  camp  in  Liberty  Theater,  his 


70  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

men  listened  with  hearts  instead  of  ears,  knowing  that 
"the  General's  the  real  thing". 

Another  ever  welcome  visitor  is  Right  Reverend  Mon- 
seignor  Neisen  D.  D.,  to  give  him  his  whole  impressive  title, 
First  Chaplain  in  the  cantonment,  and  now  attached  to 
Base  Hospital.  He  was  two  years  beyond  the  age  limit, 
but  was  especially  chosen  at  Washington.  Coming  to  Camp 
Lewis  to  visit  a  nephew,  he  was  determined  upon  this  ser- 
vice. Captain  Neisen  says  frankly  that  the  day  he  donned 
khaki  was  the  happiest  of  his  life  and  he  certainly  looks 
as  soldierly  in  his  uniform  as  he  does  priestly  in  the  lace- 
trimmed  robes  in  which  he  officiated  at  the  first  Xmas  mass 
at  Camp  Lewis.  The  only  hospital  chaplain,  he  asks  no 
questions  about  the  creeds  of  the  sick  he  visits  and  is  broad 
in  his  views.  One  day  being  himself  in  a  fever,  he  admin- 
istered extreme  unction  to  a  Catholic  dying  there.  The  man 
rallied  but  the  father  grew  worse.  Being  forbidden  to  go 
again  to  the  bedside,  Monseignor  called  for  Mr.  Herman 
Page,  an  Episcopalian  clergyman  and  asked  him  to 
visit  his  boy  and  remain  till  the  end,  which  he  gladly  did. 
The  tiny  chapel  is  next  to  the  small  building  used  as  a 
morgue. 

There  are  no  women  chaplains,  are  there?  If  ever  the 
War  Department  should  appoint  one,  it  would  naturally 
be  Mrs.  Ruth,  wife  of  Captain  Risher  Thornberry,  a  woman 
still  young  though  a  strange  tragedy,  darkening  twelve 
years,  has  streaked  her  brown  hair  with  gray.  She  speaks 
Spanish  as  fluently  as  English,  Japanese  and  Filipino.  If 
women  wore  service  ribbons,  hers  would  be  as  vary  colored 
as  our  officers'  at  Camp  Lewis,  for  she  was  with  every  war 
from  the  Spanish-American  to  this.  In  the  Philippines  her 
work  was  recognized  among  thousands  of  men.  She  has 
probably  seen  more  men  die  than  any  other  person  you 
know.  Ordered  home  during  serious  illness,  precedence  was 
accorded  her  beyond  even  admirals'  wives  and  she  was  sent 
to  the  States  on  a  transport  attended  by  a  nurse  provided 
by  Admiral  Wildes.  Boxer  Rebellion,  in  China,  Russo- 
Japanese  War,  then  three  years  amid  the  terrors  of  revolu- 
tion in  Mexico — yet  is  eager  to  be  sent  to  the  first  line 


CAMP   LEWIS  71 

trenches  in  France,  if  she  never  sees  her  husband  after 
their  arrival.  Here,  she  devotes  her  time  to  the  army 
sick,  writing  their  letters,  doing  their  errands,  amusing, 
comforting.  Nothing  long-faced  about  Mrs.  Thornberry. 
She  is  just  as  apt  to  be  slangy  as  not.  You  should  have 
tagged  along  on  the  afternoon  Corporal  Burton's  big  bari- 
tone and  Sergeant  Tobin's  tenor  rollicked  through  the 
wards,  no  lugubrious  hymns,  but  "Goodbye  Maw,  goodbye 
Paw,  goodbye  mule  with  your  old  hee-haw,"  or  "I  don't 
want  to  get  well,  I'm  in  love  with  a  beautiful  nurse,"  or 
"The  Long  Trail"  which  was  what  some  were  evidently 
following,  though  they  waved  their  bony  arms  and  clapped 
their  thin  hands  for  more.  Mrs.  Thornberry  would  give  a 
flower  here,  a  message  there,  and  be  off  like  an  engine  leav- 
ing a  trail  of  sunshine  instead  of  smoke  through  the  ward. 
Queer  ambition,  to  suffer  all  things  with  all  men,  to  go 
part  way  with  those  who  go  West  through  a  blood-red  sky, 
to  go  all  the  way,  if  such  be  the  orders  from  Division  Head- 
quarters Up  There.  Yes,  she  wants  to  go  with  the  Ninety- 
first  to  France  and  those  of  the  Division  who  know  her 
work,  would  like  to  take  Mother  Ruth  along.  Wonder  if 
among  Camp  Lewis'  Firsts,  a  First  Chaplainess — or  ette? — 
lurks?  Hut  Mother  the  Y.  M's  have  already  appointed  her 
for  France,  if,  an  officer's  wife,  she  is  allowed  to  go. 

In  Spring,  when  the  beautiful  countryside  burst  into 
bloom  and  the  convalescents  in  Camps  established  to  pro- 
vide pleasant  quarters  for  those  too  weak  to  return  to 
barracks,  looked  longingly  out,  automobilists  came  regular- 
ly to  drive  them  along  the  beckoning  roads,  to  gather  wild 
flowers,  or,  if  their  charges  were  able,  to  take  them  to 
their  own  homes.  Later,  women  took  turns  as  hostesses 
at  teas  for  convalescents  at  camp,  serving  dainty  refresh- 
ments, brightening  and  hastening  many  a  weary  recovery. 
Has  anything  been  left  undone? 

Would  that  every  face  in  this  group  showed  plainly, 
for  within  it  is  many  a  hero's.  There  is  no  sex  in  Courage. 
Heroine's  a  word  for  a  moving  picture  actress,  for  a 
problem  novel.  These  women  act  in  the  greatest  tragedy 
this  sorry  old  world  has  ever  staged,  these  work  out  the 
problem  of  the  saddest  story  ever  written. 


CAMP    LEWIS 


All  are  young  women,  some  but  girls,  but  they  are 
trained  to  efficient  and  rapid  service.  Immaculate  now. 
white-clad,  white-capped,  white-shod,  their  gowns  will  be 
splashed  with  red,  and  the  feet  of  some,  following  those 
who  have  gone  before,  will  be  sodden  as  in  shambles. 
They  will  have  no  time  to  coil  the  bright  hair  those 
winged  caps  surmount.  Some  will  sacrifice  their  woman's 
crown,  to  gain  a  few  precious  minutes  in  the  long,  hard 
day.  Their  nights  will  be  short  and  broken  and  terrorized. 

The  cross  which  marks  the  abode  to  which  they  go,  is 
red,  blood-red.  For  the  first  time  since  it  glowed  upon  a 
battlefield,  or  shone  behind  its  lines,  the  Red  Cross  is 
a  target,  the  bullseye  of  the  Prussians. 

All  this  these  nurses  know.  All  this  as  well  is  borne 
by  the  surgeons  with  whom  they  work.  None  bear  arms. 
For  them  both  no  excitement  of  battle,  no  rush  upon  the 
foe,  only  ceaseless  work,  nerve-tearing  fortitude;  but  for 
nurses,  not  even  rank,  nor  fame,  nor  paltry  pelf,  not 


CAMP   LEWIS 


I?. 


XWcy*t*ar<; 


IOSPITAL    NURSES 


even,  save  in  very  exceptional  cases,  recognition  of  their 
sacrifice. 

Death  they  face  fearlessly,  like  men,  at  the  front;  but 
for  women  there  is  something  worse  than  death.  In  all 
time  before,  the  merciful  obtained  mercy,  their  service 
was  their  honor's  shield.  To  the  everlasting  shame  of- 
German  warfare,  that  shield  is  theirs  no  longer.  This, 
too,  they  know,  and  yet  go  forth.  "Come  back  bearing 
your  shield  or  upon  it,"  said  the  warrior's  mother.  Either 
was  honor. 

Doubtless  among  these  in  the  picture  are  some  whose 
motives  would  not  bear  the  clear  light  of  Patriotism  and 
Mercy — and  doubtless  some  others  in  khaki  and  bearing 
titles  would  change  color  under  that  search-light, — but 
upon  most  rests  the  crown  of  sacrifice  hidden  beneath  the 
nurse's  cap. 

Many  of  these  are  already  in  France,  the  rest  go  soon. 
God  bless  you,  every  one. 


74  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER  VI. 

GEN.  GREENE'S  RECORD,  CHARACTERISTICS,  INFLUENCE — HIS 
RETURN  FROM  FRANCE — ROTARY  CLUB'S  GIFTS — EVENTS 
OF  HIS  COMMAND — EASTER — FIRST  MACHINE  GUN  BAR- 
RAGE— DIVISION  REVIEW  UNDER  ARMS,  REVIEW  OF  TRAIN- 
ING CAMP  GRADUATES,  AND  DIVISION  PRACTICE  MARCH- 
FAMOUS  VISITORS  -  -  DIVISION  HEADQUARTERS  -  -  MAJ. 
GREENE  AND  CAPT.  WELTY — GREENE  PARK —  COL.  BREES, 
MAJORS  MANLEY,  HERRING  AND  CUMMINS,  CAPT.  COMAN 
JUDGE  ADVOCATE  STRONG,  MAJ.  WEST,  LIEUT.  HOOVER  AND 
NATURALIZATION — THE  NINETY-FIRST'S  LAST  CITIZEN. 

Ready,  all  ready  for  its  First  Commandant  Major-Gen- 
eral Henry  A.  Greene  U.  S.  N.  A.  Looking  over  the  great 
hurrying  camp,  its  handful  of  regular  army  officers,  them- 
selves pioneers  before  this  polyglot  army,  its  hundreds 
of  utterly  inexperienced  young  officers  just  graduated  from 
the  First  Training  School,  its  thousands  of  privates  sud- 
denly removed  from  every  civilian  walk  of  life,  willing 
but  dazed,  many  unaccustomed  to  the  slightest  physical 
exertion,  to  be  quickly  wrought  into  iron  men;  taking 
over  a  cantonment  and  "the  makings"  of  a  First  Division, 
was  it  not  a  staggering  task?  But  thirty-eight  years' 
varied  service  had  fashioned  the  Man  to  the  Work.  Prob- 
ably the  War  Departmment  fancies  it  appointed  him;  not 
so.  Ministers,  servers,  are  ordained.  His  previous  life 
was  the  course,  the  Ninety-First  his  charge,  its  success 
the  fruits. 

Not  a  man  in  the  army  has  had  more  varied  training 
since  being  graduated  from  West  Point  in  1879.  After 
two  years  at  the  usual  small  post,  Lieut.  Greene  was  in- 
structor for  four  years  in  the  Infantry  and  Cavalry  School, 


CAMP   LEWIS  75 

and  later,  for  another  four  years;  still  later,  Commandant 
of  Army  Service  Schools  at  Fort  Leavenworth  1914-16. 
These  ten  years  alone  would  produce  a  Commandant  under 
whose  officers  intensive  training  would  result.  Captain 
Greene  headed  a  company  at  El  Caney  and  Santiago,  also 
in  the  campaign  around  Manila,  where  later  he  served 
upon  the  Provost-Guard  and  as  Aid-de-camp  to  Maj.  Gen. 
Otis.  Then  he  was  Assistant  Adjutant  General  of  the 
Army,  at  Washington.  He  was  secretary  of  the  First 
General  Staff  which  he  helped  to  organize.  Next  he  was 
Chief  of  Staff  of  the  Southwestern  Division  Oklahoma; 
of  the  Northern,  St.  Louis.  For  a  year,  he  commanded  the 
10th  Infantry  in  Alaska.  He  was  President  of  the  In- 
fantry Equipment  Board  at  Rock  Island  Arsenal;  in  com- 
mand at  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison  for  three  years,  when 
he  went  to  the  Concentration  Camp  to  command  his  10th 
Infantry  again,  ordered  to  Panama.  There  he  remained 
through  the  construction,  1911-4.  For  a  few  months  he 
was  in  charge  of  the  Central  Department  at  Chicago. 
Then  he  went  to  the  Mexican  Border,  in  command  of 
Divisional  Districts,  the  first  being  at  San  Antonio,  where 
as  Second-Lieutenant,  fresh  from  West  Point,  he  had  been 
posted.  In  the  old  adobe  hospital  at  Fort  Duncan  he  even 
occupied  his  old  room,  asking  Capt.  Welty  who  was  sta- 
tioned there,  if  he  would  give  it  up  to  him,  he  would  feel 
that  he  had  come  back  home,  would  like  to  see  if  a  Bri- 
gadier-General enjoyed  it  as  much  as  a  Second-Lieutenant 
had,  a  touch  of  the  simplicity  of  this  man  which  is  so 
winning.  Lastly,  he  commanded  at  Douglas,  Arizona  and 
came  from  there  to  Camp  Lewis  in  August,  1917 — even 
with  all  this,  some  details  are  omitted.  He  belongs  to 
several  clubs  and  orders,  holds  third  rank  in  the  National 
Army  of  the  United  States,  but  none  of  this  would  stand 
between  you  in  meeting  him.  Only  the  two  stars  upon  his 
shoulder  straps  would  intimate  he  is  a  Major-General, 
responsible  for  an  entire  Division,  the  largest  unit  of  a 
great  army.  He  is  the  cultured  gentleman,  witty,  unas- 
suming, the  home-lover,  a  maker  of  friends.  Asked  if 
descended  from  General  Greene  of  Revolutionary  fame, 


76  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

for  he  is  a  Son  of  the  American  Revolution,  he  replied 
"No  connection;  my  grandfather  went  in  and  came  out, 
a  private."  It  is  this  plain  speaking,  his  liking  for  men 
as  men,  that,  as  much  as  anything,  has  endeared  him  to 
his  soldiers  and  the  community.  He  does  what  he  thinks 
right  and  expects  his  officers  and  men  to  do  the  same,  so 
that  he  has  fought  a  good  fight  right  here  in  Washington, 
entrenching  his  command  against  their  worst  enemies. 
The  men  themselves  admit  this,  while  their  mothers,  wives 
and  sisters  regard  him  as  a  friend  of  the  family.  Not 
every  General  is  entitled  to  that  honor  to  wear  upon  his 
breast.  No  matter  what  his  decorations,  this  is  no  mean 
Distinguished  Service  Order.  One  mother  tried  to  say 
something  to  him  about  being  both  honored  and  loved. 
"Well,"  the  merry  eyes  twinkled,  "I  should  like  to  believe 
that,  of  course,  but  if  I  can't  have  both,  I'll  take  the  af- 
fection." Another,  who  had  come  from  a  distance  to  visit 
her  son,  said,  "I  wish  Gen.  Greene  needed  something  that 
I  had  to  give  him.  I  feel  so  grateful  that  he  set  his  stand- 
ard before  the  camp  beside  the  flag,  so  to  speak.  We 
mothers  feel  that  strongly.  I  saw  him  on  a  street  corner 
once  and  I  could  hardly  resist  telling  him  so,  he  looks  so 
kind."  One  thing  is  sure,  had  she  done  that  he  would 
have  received  her  thanks  with  appreciation,  for,  as  her 
boy  put  it,  "The  General's  the  real  thing.  Why  it's  all 
the  rage  to  be  decent  out  at  camp,  no  fellow's  ashamed 
of  it."  So  you  see  why  the  motto  at  Base  Hospital  ap- 
plies here,  Influence  is  exhalation  of  character.  From 
Headquarters  down,  through  high  officers  to  low,  this 
impress  has  become  the  stamp  official  of  Camp  Lewis, 
every  man  is  marked  by  it  before  he  has  been  long  upon 
the  cantonment,  even  though  the  impress  be  faint. 


MANLINESS 
EFFICIENCY 
DEPENDABLENESS 


The  General  says  that  one  of  the  most  statisfactory 
bits  of  his  long  service  was  organizing  his  company  of 
Sioux  Indians,  and  teaching  them  English;  "Good  soldiers 


CAMP  LEWIS  77 

they  were,  too,  I  was  proud  of  them."  It  is  interesting,  in 
this  connection,  that  just  before  the  91st  started  for 
France,  twenty-five  Sioux  came  with  the  new  draft  into 
the  Depot  Brigade.  And  still  more  interesting  is  the  fact 
that  the  First  Indian  to  die  in  the  Service  during  this  war 
was  stationed  at  Camp  Lewis. 

Gen.  Greene  has  the  three  elements  of  a  good  speaker: 
he  has  something  worth-while  to  say,  he  says  it  plainly 
and  humorously,  and  then  he  ends.  When  he  first  came 
to  Camp  Lewis  he  made  many  addresses  to  congregations 
and  clubs  in  his  off-hand,  friendly  way,  which  did  more 
than  countless  government  bulletins  to  assure  and  reassure 
people  about  army  life,  opportunities,  and  improvements. 
People  trusted  and  liked  him.  Men  wrote  home  about  him 
and  families  grew  to  feel  a  proprietary  interest  in  "our 
camp"  and  "our  General".  There  is  more  than  one  word's 
difference  in  the  French  usage  "mon  General",  not  "le 

General". 

********** 

In  the  Fall,  Captain,  afterward  Major  James  S.  Greene, 
West  Point  1904,  6th  Cavalry,  came  to  Camp  Lewis  as  his 
Aid,  later  accompanying  his  father  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Brees,  Chief  of  Staff,  to  France  the  end  of  Novem- 
ber. There  Major  Greene  remained  for  a  course  in  the 
Staff  Officers  School.  He  has  the  same  humorous  compre- 
hension as  the  General,  who  told  this  incident  upon  his 
return:  Major  Greene  and  a  British  officer,  in  the  Gen- 
eral's car,  went  to  the  first  line  trenches,  leaving  the  car 
and  its  American  driver  with  orders  to  await  them,  there. 
They  proceeded  further  on  foot  and  after  various  diver- 
sions, such  as  playing  target  for  machine-gun  fire  from 
an  airplane,  they  returned  wet,  cold,  and  tired,  only  to 
find  that  the  car  had  retreated  to  a  village  further  back 
when  the  Germans  began  shelling.  There  was  nothing 
to  do  but  plough  on  through  wind  and  rain.  Naturally, 
they  asked  the  chauffeur  why  he  had  not  remained.  The 
lanky  Texan  replied  imperturbably.  "I  don't  allow  'twas 
lack  o'  personal  courage,  but  I  calc'lated  you'd  rather  walk 
three  miles  further  to  a  live  shuffer  and  a  runnable  car, 


78 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


MAJOR  JAMES  GREENE 


than  to  find  a  dead  car  with  a  driver  to  match."  Major 
Greene  remarked  that  the  Texan  seemed  to  have  said 
all  that  was  really  necessary.  It  is  Major  Greene's  small 
son  who  is  to  inherit  the  trench  boots  his  grandfather 
bought  at  the  Front,  laughed  the  General.  Just  now  they 
are  as  large  as  the  price,  which  was  considerably  over 

fifty  dollars,  by  the  way. 

********** 

General  Greene  was  aboard  ship  to  return  to  this 
country  when  the  Tuscania  was  sunk,  so  the  vessel  de- 
layed five  days.  There  were  about  thirty  men  from  Camp 


CAMP  LEWIS  79 

Lewis  of  the  361st  Infantry  and  the  166th  Depot  Brigade, 
upon  the  Tuscania  going  to  join  the  Engineers. 

Upon  his  return  to  Washington  D.  C.,  General  Greene 
passed  the  rigid  physical  examination  exacted  of  all  of- 
ficers who  are  to  serve  oversea.  He  reached  Tacoma  the 
first  of  March  and  was  met  at  the  station  not  only  by 
Division  Officers  and  Commanders,  but  by  many  citizens 
who  made  it  a  genuine  home  coming,  emphasized  by  the 
band  of  the  361st  Infantry's  playing  Home,  Sweet  Home 
and  Happy  Heinie,  the  official  march  of  the  10th  Infantry 
when  General  Greene  was  its  Colonel,  and  to  whom  its 
composer  gave  the  score. 

During  the  General's  absence,  his  bungalow  just  be- 
yond Headquarters  at  camp  had  been  finished  and  fur- 
nished, the  latter  by  the  Rotary  Club  of  Tacoma,  their 
gift  to  the  Commandant  of  Camp  Lewis,  as  a  plate  upon 
the  Victrola  announced;  but  other  gifts  were  brought  one 
evening  for  Gen.  Greene,  himself.  A  few  Staff  Officers 
and  their  wives  being  at  the  bungalow,  the  Rotarians  and 
their  wives  and  a  motorful  of  gifts  arrived  while  the  band 
serenaded.  Ralph  Shaffer,  District  Rotary  Governor, 
made  the  presentation  speech  and  announced  that  the 
Grandfather's  clock  which  was  too  large  for  the  shelf  was 
to  stand  forty  years  on  the  fldor  if  the  General's  well 
wishers  set  the  time;  that  the  piano  light,  the  library  and 
council  table,  and  the  thermos  carafe  were  for  this  par- 
ticular Commandant  who  could  not  be  superseded  in  the 
esteem  of  the  whole  community.  Whereupon  Genera] 

Greene,  with  his  wife  beside  him,  replied  most  happily. 
********** 

The  First  Machine  Gun  Barrage  Demonstration  at 
Camp  Lewis  occurred  March  22,  1918,  over  a  field  some 
distance  from  the  cantonment,  several  hundred  officers  at- 
tending. Representatives  of  all  Division  Machine  Gun 
companies  fired  at  unseen  targets  a  mile  away,  using 
sixteen  of  these  small  terrors,  an  officer  and  two  privates 
to  each,  the  former  computing  the  range,  and  the  others 
supplying  and  firing  the  gun,  upon  its  tripod,  from  the 
trench.  The  only  excitement  was  the  first  sputter  of  the 


80  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

guns  as  the  raised  arm  of  the  commanding  officer  fell, 
for  the  result  could  be  known  only  after  examination  of 
the  paper  barricade  far  away.  After  a  time  Gen.  Greene 
was  motored  over  to  make  that,  and  to  direct  the  moving 
of  targets  to  another  point,  which  must  be  computed  by 
the  firing  officers  before  sighting  for  the  second  barrage. 
The  results  of  this  first  demonstration  predicted  well  for 

our  gunners  at  the  front. 

********** 

The  very  last  day  of  March  was  the  First  Easter 
since  our  entrance  into  war.  To  many  a  dormant  soul, 
in  the  army  and  out  of  it,  the  day  dawned  with  clearer 
light,  for,  amid  the  horrors  of  war  and  in  the  hush  of 
the  nation's  expectancy,  faith  has  awakened  and  life  is 
new.  This  nation  was  founded  upon  Godliness  and  educa- 
tion. The  first  building  in  a  Colonial  settlement  was  a 
church,  the  second  a  school;  in  our  time  the  first  was  a 
saloon  and  the  next  a  dance  hall.  Then,  the  Bible  was 
both  law  and  Scripture;  lately,  in  streetfuls  of  homes, 
family  Bible  and  family  Album  disappeared  together. 
But  when,  every  dawn,  War  opens  Eternity's  gates  to 
thousands  of  men,  when  the  sun  cannot  brighten  the 
desolate  homes  to  which  they  will  never  return,  while 
whole  countrysides,  like  Him  of  old,  have  no  place  to 
lay  their  heads,  the  "many  mansions"  are  become  very 
real  habitations,  and  the  risen  Lord,  after  His  martyrdom, 
an  understanding  Friend.  A  great  service  had  been 
planned  in  which,  for  the  first  time  in  history,  all  sects 
were  to  participate,  but  this  proved  too  good  to  be  true, 
though  Easter  service  in  Liberty  Theater  that  sunny 
afternoon  was  beautiful,  the  stage  "in  the  beauty  of  the 
lilies"  arranged  by  the  Hostess  House  women.  The 
vested  choir  followed  both  cross  and  flag,  and  last  came 
Bishop  and  General,  each  in  the  garb  of  his  service,  each 
with  a  son  at  the  Front.  Bishop  Keator  preached  the 
sermon  and  General  Greene  read  the  chapter  beginning. 
"The  first  day  of  the  week  cometh  Mary  Magdelene  early, 
when  it  was  yet  dark," — always  has  it  been  women  who 
were  faithful  even  when  all  was  dark.  To  soldiers,  which 


CAMP  LEWIS  81 

think  you,  did  the  more  good,  sermon  or  reading?  For 
a  man  to  stand  out  as  Christian  and  soldier,  with  thous- 
ands noting  if  he  practices  what  he  professes,  requires 
courage.  The  service,  arranged  by  the  young  Episcopalian 
clergyman,  Herman  Page,  was  printed.  The  people  sang 
America  with  love,  and  with  prayer — 

AMERICA  THE  BEAUTIFUL 

0  beautiful  for  spacious  skies, 

For  amber  waves  of  grain, 

For  purple  mountain  majesties 

Above  the  fruited  plain! 

America !   America ! 

God  shed  His  grace  on  thee 

And  crown  thy  good  with  brotherhood, 

From  sea  to  shining  sea! 

O  beautiful  for  pilgrim  feet, 

Whose  stern,  impassioned  stress 

A  thoroughfare  for  freedom  beat 

Across  the  wilderness! 

America !  America ! 

God  mend  thine  every  flaw, 

Confirm  thy  soul  in  self-control, 

Thy  liberty  in  law! 

O  beautiful  for  heroes  proved 
In  liberating  strife, 
Who  more  than  self  their  country  loved 
And  mercy  more  than  life! 
America!  America! 
May  God  thy  gold  refine, 
Till  all  success  be  nobleness, 
And  every  gain  divine! 
O   beautiful   for  patriot  dream 
That  sees  beyond  the  years 
Thine  alabaster  cities  gleam 
Undimmed  by  human  tears! 
America!  America! 
God  shed  His  grace  on  thee 
And   crown  thy   good  with   brotherhood, 
From  sea  to  shining  sea! 
*********  * 

Is  it  not  good,  General  Greene,  good,  Ninety-First,  to 
think  that  in  your  day  at  Camp  Lewis,  the  first  anniver- 
sary of  every  sacred  day  has  rolled  around?  April  6  was 
Liberty  Day,  when  the  United  States  declared  war  upon 
il-Liberate  Germany.  There  were  various  celebrant  as- 
semblages, but  one  of  import  was  the  meeting  of  em- 
ployers and  employees  at  a  large  shipyard  in  Tacoma, 
where  carriers  were  being  rushed.  It  was  addressed  by 

§  7 


82  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Gen.  Greene  in  words  so  genuine  and  modest,  so  thought- 
ful, helpful  and  friendly,  that  all  deserve  to  be  crystal- 
lized, but  here  are  a  few, — what  an  all-embracing  dif- 
ference in  such  a  talk  from  a  Major-General  in  the  Ameri- 
can Army  and  one,  if  he  would  deign  to  give  it,  by  a 
Prussian  Major-General. 

"Comrades  of  the  great  ununiformed  army  of  workers, 
they  have  asked  me  to  speak  to  you  today,  perhaps  that 
the  two  branches  of  our  defenders  may  be  brought  into  a 
little  closer  touch  and  greater  appreciation  of  each  other. 
I  have  recently  returned  from  a  visit  to  the  front,  I  have 
seen  the  vast  expanse  of  battlefields  and  trenches.  I  have 
seen  the  needs  that  this  country  must  supply,  and  great- 
est of  these  is  our  need  for  ships. 

"Our  uniformed  army  and  the  army  of  labor  need  each 
other.  They  need  your  protection  and  you  need  theirs. 
They  need  your  ships  and  the  things  that  will  be  carried 
in  those  ships,  and  they  need  them  quickly.  The  time 
element  now  enters  into  this  conflict  as  never  before.  I 
know  that  your  work  is  honest  work,  that  you  are  build- 
ing staunchly  and  well.  But  if  it  is  humanly  possible  we 
need  you  now  to  drive  two  spikes  where  you  drove  one 
before.  This  war  will  not  be  won  on  the  battlefields  of 
France,  but  in  the  workshops  of  America. 

"You  have  heard  of  the  great  German  gun  that  car- 
ried its  shots  seventy-five  miles  and  on  Easter  Sunday 
dropped  its  missiles  into  a  Paris  church.  But  your  work 
is  greater  than  that  German  gun.  You  will  be  felt  in  Ber- 
lin 4000  miles  away.  Your  country  needs  you  as  it  never 
needed  you  before,  and  you  are  a  real  soldier  of  liberty  if 
you  are  accomplishing  your  utmost  with  your  skill  in  this 
work  that  you  do  best." 

******         ***# 

The  91st  Division  was  reviewed  by  Gen.  Greene  for 
the  first  time  under  Arms,  April  11.  Surrounded  by  his 
Staff  and  Foreign  Officers,  all  mounted,  at  the  North 
center  of  the  great  field,  troops  bounding  both  sides  as 
far  as  eye  could  reach,  bands  playing,  thousands  of  visit- 
ors in  autos  and  afoot  eagerly  watching,  Company  after 
Company  marched  by,  dipping  their  colors  to  the  Com- 
mandant as  they  passed  the  reviewing  station,  all  but 
Old  Glory,  held  proudly  erect,  stars  to  the  sky,  stripes 
straightly  carried  by  the  free  wind,  and  the  serried  tops 


CAMP  LEWIS  83 

of  the  ancient  firs  massed  at  the  rear,  their  fixed  bayonets 
piercing  the  blue,  like  towering  shades  of  departed  ranks 
looking  down  upon  this  new  army,  gathered  from  a  happy- 
go-lucky  population,  at  peace  since  the  highest  officers  of 
its  regulars  were  playing  soldier:  not  an  army  like  that 
of  the  Civil  War,  rushed  into  the  field,  on  both  sides  un- 
trained and  inefficient,  but  an  army  fit  to  ally  with  the 
dauntless  French,  the  valiant  British,  the  daring  Italian, 
against  the  Hun,  for  forty  years  darkly  preparing  to  un- 
civilize  Europe,  to  dominate  the  free  sea,  and  to  extinguish 
under  submarines  the  beckoning  torch  of  Liberty  Enlight- 
ening the  World. 

The  91st  is  an  Infantry  Division,  that  is  has  a  pre- 
ponderance of  foot  soldiers,  though  every  branch  except 
aviation  is  in  its  makeup.  Many  men  of  that  166th 
Field  Artillery  Brigade  never  saw  a  gun  carriage  till  they 
learned  to  mount  it,  yet  they  will  give  good  account  of 
themselves  when,  as  that  day  in  review,  Artillery  leads 
the  battle.  Following  the  cannon  and  their  caissons,  came 
the  346th  Machine  Gun  Battalion  with  their  guns  and 
carts  of  ammunition;  then  the  181st  and  182nd  Infantry 
Brigades,  the  44th  Regulars,  the  316th  Engineers,  Field 
Signal  Battalion,  Trains  and  Military  Police,  all  under 
full  arms  and  equipment.  The  Military  Police  and  Head- 
quarters troops  were  mounted  upon  well  matched  blacks 
and  bays,  both  furnished  by  Capt.  Jackson  from  the  Re- 
mount Station.  Mules  drew  army  wagons  like  the  last 
of  the  old  "prairie  schooners"  and  the  huge,  powerful 
motors  told  of  new  days.  It  was  an  inspiring  sight.  Did 
you  not  take  heart  as  you  saw  the  best  of  our  strong 
young  West  pass  that  day,  Britishers  and  Frenchmen,  and 
knew  their  will  and  skill  devoted  to  your  countries'  aid? 

The  20th  of  April  Gen.  Greene  reviewed  the  499  gradu- 
ates of  the  First  of  Officers'  Training  Schools  to  be  held 
at  Camp  Lewis.  The  "colonel  of  the  regiment"  was  First 
Sergeant  Richards  of  the  regular  army  infantry  in  camp, 
who  had  trained  them.  During  the  fourteen  weeks'  course, 


84  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

half  of  the  thousand  detailed  had  been  returned  to  the 
ranks.  Col.  Brees,  Maj.  Cummins,  and  Lt.  Col.  Norrell, 
Commanding  Officer,  were  the  reviewing  staff.  The  Gen- 
eral gave  a  short,  practical  talk  and  personally  presented 
each  diploma  representing  a  Second-lieutenantcy  commis- 
sion. Friends  of  graduates  looked  on  with  far  deeper  in- 
terest than  the  ordinary  graduation  calls  forth,  for  the 
"battle  of  life"  always  referred  to,  was  today  a  stern 
and  imminent  reality. 


The  very  last  day  of  April,  another  First,  moved  the 
whole  Division  for  practice  march  to  Roy,  six  miles  distant, 
traveling  by  five  roads,  16,000  strong.  For  weeks  differ- 
ent organizations  had  been  working  out  problems  of 
movement  and  intelligence  on  their  hikes;  now,  under 
equipment,  they  moved  "as  troops  through  a  friendly 
country". 

The  Signal  Corps  arrived  first.  Telephone  and  telegraph 
wires  were  quickly  strung  from  Headquarters  in  the 
dilapidated  old  farmhouse  among  the  blooming  apple 
trees,  to  the  several  Brigade  headquarters  with  their  own 
flags  flying.  Wireless  was  operating  back  to  Camp  Lewis 
and  the  homing  pigeons  were  ready  to  fly.  Mounted  Mili- 
tary Police  followed  the  Signal  Corps.  One  troop  camped 
before  General  Headquarters,  blocking  entrance  and  chal- 
lenging; another  kept  the  roads  open.  Both  officers  and 
line  wore  denim.  Every  organization  was  accompanied  by 
supply  trains,  and  every  man  carried  full  equipment,  in- 
cluding half  of  a  pup  tent.  The  Field  Artillery,  400  strong, 
guns  mounted  and  caissons  rumbling,  made  it  appear  that 
need  would  be  for  the  Field  Ambulance  Corps  and  stretch- 
ers attendant  upon  every  regiment,  and  for  the  Field  Hos- 
pitals set  up  and  ready  for  business.  The  first  troops  ar- 
rived about  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  by  eleven 
thirty,  tents  were  pitched  for  a  mile  each  side  of  the  Gen- 
eral's Headquarters.  Mounted  orderlies  carried  messages, 
their  service  hats  with  black  and  white  cords  and  the  broad 
red  band  upon  one  sleeve  proclaiming  their  errand  from 


CAMP  LEWIS  85 

afar.     The  Bees  in  the  fruit  blossoms  buzzed  their  com- 
ments upon  these  rivals  and  their  strange  hives. 

At  noon,  the  rations  carried  by  the  men  were  disposed 
of  to  a  crumb,  and  in  the  afternoon  Gen.  Greene  inspected 
the  entire  encampment.  It  was  a  long  day  and  a  strong 

day,  was  it  not,  Ninety-First? 

********** 

Many  famous  visitors  came  to  Camp  Lewis  that  first 
year.  One  to  be  received  by  its  Commandant  with  special 
interest  was  Major-General  E.  D.  Swinton,  inventor  of 
War  Tanks,  Assistant-Secretary  of  the  British  War  Cab- 
inet, veteran  of  thirty  years'  service  in  many  lands:  Like 
everyone  else,  he  was  strongly  impressed  by  Camp  Lewis, 
and  cheered  by  the  efficiency  already  shown  by  its  troops. 
General  Swinton  modestly  disclaimed  inventing  the  tanks, 
said  it  was  only  an  adaptation  of  an  American  invention, 
the  caterpillar  tractor. 

Another  interesting  man,  Father  Thomas  Ewing  Sher- 
man, was  conducted  about  camp  by  General  Greene,  and 
lectured  at  Liberty  Theater,  introduced  by  the  Command- 
ant, who  sat  upon  the  stage  throughout,  the  most  inter- 
ested hearer  of  a  most  eloquent  message.  Father  Sher- 
man's subject,  "The  Soldier",  was  one  in  which  he  should 
be  versed,  for  he  spent  much  of  his  boyhood  in  camp  with 
his  father,  knew  much  of  the  Civil  War,  of  Indian  fight- 
ing, and  later,  himself  fought  in  the  Spanish-American. 
Remember  that  his  father,  William  Tecumseh  Sherman, 
was  one  of  but  six  Generals  our  country  has  so  honored: 
Washington  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  Grant,  Sherman 
and  Sheridan  in  the  Civil,  Pershing  and  Bliss,  in  this. 
General  Pershing  and  Major-General  Greene  have  been 

twice  associated  in  past  service. 

********** 

Not  an  imposing  structure,  is  it,  Division  Headquart- 
ers? Like  all  the  buildings  in  the  days  of  the  Ninety- 
First,  it  is  unpainted.  Opposite  the  door,  and  opposite  the 
staircase  on  the  second  floor,  stands  an  orderly,  or  rather 
sits,  rising  only  as  one  advances.  Unlike  such  function- 
aries in  most  places  of  the  sort,  decidedly  unlike  men  sta- 


86 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


HEADQUARTERS 

tioned  before  un-civil  magnates,  these  soldiers  are  courte- 
ous. They  do  not  anticipate  in  you  a  pickpocket  or  even 
a  beggar.  They  proceed  upon  the  premises  that  you  are 
a  gentleman,  that  you  have  proper  business  there,  and 
that  you  will  be  courteously  received  within.  They  direct 
you  in  quite  that  spirit.  The  air  of  the  place  is  military, 
business-like,  democratic.  Here  the  Commanding  Officer 
of  the  camp  has  his  office  and  all  Division  officers  have 
theirs,  workaday,  inelegant.  The  Commandant's  office 
boasts  a  carpet  rug,  but  neither  fireplace,  picture,  nor 
ornament.  His  desk,  like  theirs,  is  plain  oak. 

Without,  a  concrete  roadway  circles  a  plaza  already 
green  and  parked  with  shrubbery  wherein  the  State 
flower,  the  Rhododendron,  bloomed  the  first  Spring.  This 
is  bounded  by  an  artistic  low  wall  of  the  omnipresent  field 
stone  selected  to  cannon-ball  size.  In  the  center  of  this 
green  floats  one  of  the  two  official  flags  of  the  camp,  from 
a  steel  flagstaff  seventy-five  feet  high.  Here,  every  day  at 
Retreat,  a  band  plays  the  Star  Spangled  Banner  and  as 
the  colors  respond  to  their  name  and  slowly  descend  at 
the  call,  silence  falls  and  within  and  without  all  stand  at 
attention.  Then  does  the  Division  officers'  day  end,  just 
as  the  privates'  does,  for  as  yet  no  swivel-chair  officer  has 
been  stationed  at  Camp  Lewis.  From  General  to  Janitor 
all  work,  and  work  hard. 


CAMP  LEWIS  87 

From  that  flagstaff,  May  24,  1918,  for  the  first  time 
in  the  life  of  Camp  Lewis,  under  the  red,  white  and  blue, 
floated  another  flag,  one  of  red,  white  and  green,  Italy's, 
our  Ally's,  to  commemorate  the  third  anniversary  of  its. 
entrance  into  the  war;  and,  in  Tacoma,  a  company  of  in- 
fantry from  the  cantonment  headed  the  Italian  parade, 
celebrating  their  countrymen's  prowess. 

Speaking  of  the  National  air,  it  is  true  that  many 
home-grown  Americans  do  not  yet  know  what  it  is.  Peo- 
ple have  been  known  to  rise  to  Dixie. 

"Come  boys,  come",  said  old  Mr.  Jones,  whose  patriot- 
ism is  truer  than  his  music  sense,  "don't  keep  your  seats 
when  your  Country's  hymn  is  played.  Rise,  boys,"  and 
they  rose,  and  stood  more  or  less  reverently  while  the 
orchestra  played  Old  Black  Joe!  I  scarcely  believe  that 
story,  though  the  General,  who  is  full  of  fun,  asserts  he 
does:  says  he  has  stood  for  everything  else,  if  not  that; 
says  an  orchestra  will  play  a  patriotic  air,  somebody  will 
rise,  people  will  pop  up  here  and  there  like  the  quickest 
kernels  in  a  corn-popper  ,and,  observing  his  uniform,  looks 
surprised  and  reproachful  will  turn  upon  him  until  he  is 
"fairly  bluffed  into  standing",  which  is  the  respect  proper- 
ly shown  only  the  Star  Spangled  Banner. 

It  is  not  every  General  who  not  only  can  see  the  joke, 
but  whose  inherent  courtesy  spares  others  the  knowledge 
of  their  ignorance.  If  he  meets  a  private  while  cutting 
across  from  Headquarters  to  his  bungalow  afoot — the  big 
yellow  car  with  the  flag  and  the  two-starred  ensign  is  all 
right  enough  for  the  General,  but  the  man  likes  to  walk — 
he  is  just  as  apt  to  salute  first,  "pleases  the  boy,  perhaps, 
and  does  no  harm",  smiles  he.  Yet,  officially,  no  Com- 
mander is  more  of  a  stickler,  than  the  democratic  man  who 
wins  friends  for  the  Service  he  loves  in  these  many  small 
ways.  One  day,  sitting  in  his  office,  the  phone  rang.  Per- 
haps you  don't  know  that  most  Generals  would  sooner 
take  up  a  bomb-fuse,  but  General  Greene's  dignity  is 
phone-proof  : 

"Captain  Welty  there?— Well,  that's  his  office,  aint  it? 
— Do  you  work  in  that  office?" 


88 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


' 


THE  COMMANDANT, 


CAMP  LEWIS 


89 


OFFICERS   AND   ASSISTANTS 


90  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

"Yes,"  said  the  General,  "I  work  here.     Can  I  do  any- 
thing for  you?" 

"No",   very   curtly,   "you   can't.     I   want   to   speak   to 

Captain  Welty  himself,"  and  he  hung  up,  hard. 

********** 

A  promising  young  sculptor  in  Tacoma,  about  to 
enlist  in  the  navy  to  celebrate  his  majority,  asked,  through 
secretary  W.  P.  Bonney  of  the  State  Historical  Society  for 
a  few  sittings  from  the  General  in  order  to  make  a  portrait 
bust  to  present  to  the  museum.  Busy  as  he  was,  and 
naturally  not  over-sanguine  about  the  success  of  such  an 
ambitious  attempt  in  a  young  artist,  he  acquiesced. 
Completed  after  but  seven  short  sittings,  an  evening  re- 
ception was  arranged  in  beautiful  Hewitt  Hall  at  the  mu- 
seum, where  the  work  stood  the  severe  test  of  comparison 
with  the  original,  at  the  same  height.  It  is  exceedingly 
life-like  and  was  presented,  in  a  few  boyish,  winning 
words,  by  the  sculptor,  Allan  Clark,  and  accepted,  on  be- 
half of  the  museum,  by  its  president  William  W.  Seymour, 
with  encomiums  upon  the  General,  the  Artist,  and  his 
Work,  stating  that  the  bust  would  be  cast  in  enduring 
bronze  in  memory  of  him  whose  work  at  Camp  Lewis  would 
be  as  enduring.  He  then  called  upon  Gen.  Greene,  without 
warning,  to  say  a  word.  To  a  man  less  resourceful  and 
unassuming,  the  situation  would  have  been  most  awkward, 
but  he  certainly  rose  to  the  occasion.  In  a,  short,  witty 
talk,  he  acknowledged  that  none  would  be  apt  to  turn  from 
the  Apollo  Belvedere  to  gaze  upon  these  features  as  a 
paragon  of  beauty,  but  that  there  was  to  be  seen  in  the 
work,  talent  amounting  to  genius;  that,  after  the  war,  re- 
turning from  serving  the  country  to  which  he  had  just 
pledged  himself,  the  young  artist  would  "carry  on"  in  art, 
and  that  the  time  would  come  when  he  himself  would 
proudly  say,  "Why,  I  knew  Allan  Clark,  the  sculptor,  when 
he  was  only  a  boy.  I  had  the  honor  of  sitting  for  his 
first  life-size  work." 

Speaking  of  the  Washington  State  Historical  Society 
Museum,  upon  the  Stadium  where  several  91st  Division's 
events  have  been  staged,  including  the  big  foot  ball  game 
in  the  Fall,  it  contains,  amid  a  large  amount  of  unusually 


CAMP  LEWIS  91 

good  material,  two  objects  of  unique  interest  and  value 
at  this  time,  the  bugle  upon  which  sounded  the  First  Alarm 
of  the  Civil  War  to  the  North  at  Fort  Sumter,  and  an 
entire  journal  in  the  handwriting  of  the  First  President  of 
the  United  States.  This  would  seem  a  particularly  happy 
possession  of  a  state  named  for  Washington.  Hearing  this 
remark,  Colonel  Saville,  who  is  deeply  interested  in  history, 
replied  that  the  State  was  not  named  for  the  President, 
but  for  the  vessel  which  explored  its  shores  under  Capt. 
Gray  who  discovered  the  Columbia  River  and  christened 
it  in  its  own  water  for  the  other  of  his  twin  ships. 

Greene  Park,  the  largest  amusement  zone  in  connec- 
tion with  the  thirty-two  cantonments,  upon  government 
land  across  the  railroad  track,  was  named  by  Brig.  Gen. 
Foltz,  for  the  Commandant  in  France.  All  buildings  are 
of  one  type,  the  Swiss  chalet.  There  are  the  usual  amuse- 
ments and  shops  to  be  found  in  such  parks,  but  all  must 
be  approved  by  the  War  Department  and  are  subjected  to 
the  control  of  the  Commandant.  Why  they  are  allowed  to 
do  business  on  Sunday  when  it  is  against  the  law  in  cities, 
is  a  red  tape  knot  which  no  one  attempts  to  untie.  Vari- 
ous delays  occurred  in  the  upbuilding  and  the  families  of 
the  91st  had  no  chance  of  housing  in  the  huge  hotel  which 
is  building  there  and  will  solve  many  of  the  problems  of 
officers'  wives  and  visiting  relatives.  The  Salvation  Army 
is  also  building  a  large  Hut  in  Greene  Park.  There  is 
being  completed  a  second  Hostess  House,  solely  for  the 
use  of  the  girls  and  women  employed  in  Greene  Park  con- 
cessions, the  nurses  from  the  Base  Hospital,  and  any 
others  employed  at  camp.  It  is  planned  by  Miss  Constance 
Clark,  who  gave  up  her  opportunity  for  France  early  in 
the  spring,  to  remain  at  Hostess  House  and  assist  with 
this  new  and  much  needed  club-house  project,  which  will 
be  under  supervision  of  the  former.  It  will  be  furnished 
throughout  by  Mrs.  Charles  Raymond,  except  for  the  re- 
ception room  which  will  be  Lieut.  Raymond's  gift. 

The  Christian  Science  Headquarters  chalet  in  Greene 
Park  is  in  charge  of  Mr.  Joseph  Reynolds  and  his  sunny- 
faced  wife. 


92 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CAPT.    M.    D.    WELTY 


Capt.  Maurice  D.  Welty  is  Gen.  Greene's  Aid-de-Camp, 
Aid,  for  camp  or  trench,  office  or  zone.  Born  in  Greens- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,  in  1886,  and  graduated  from  its  High 
School,  from  the  U.  S.  Military  Academy  in  1910,  he 


CAMP  LEWIS  93 

spent  the  customary  three  years  in  the  Philippines,  then 
returned  to  the  States,  joining  the  5th  Infantry  at  Platts- 
burg.  In  1916,  he  went  with  the  3rd  Infantry  to  Eagle 
Pass,  Texas,  became  First-Lieutenant  in  July  of  that  year 
and  General  Greene's  Aid,  which  he  has  been  ever  since, 
coming  with  him  to  Camp  Lewis  in  August,  1917,  as  Capt- 
ain of  a  month's  standing.  Just  before  the  91st  Division 
started  for  France,  Captain  Welty  became  Major  Welty. 
He  has  been  Camp  Censor  of  all  news  and  photographs, 
and  had  charge  of  Greene  park  during  his  chief's 
absence  in  France,  in  fact  his  duties  have  been 
varied  and  exacting,  but  he  has  shown  himself  able  in 
them  all.  For  some  time  before  the  Division  left,  he  was 

Acting  Assistant  Chief  of  Staff. 

*********  * 

A  Major-General  is  entitled  to  three  Aids,  two 
Captains  and  a  First-Lieutenant.  The  last  named  is  Lieut. 
George  P.  Raymond  of  Santa  Barbara  and  Akron,  Ohio, 
who  has  filled  a  position  requiring  tact,  with  tact  and  to 
spare.  In  May,  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  promotion  of 
Captain  Greene  to  Major,  was  filled  by  the  assignment  of 
Capt.  Dean  C.  Witter.  Maj.  Greene,  though  in  France,  is 
still  attached  to  the  91st  Divilsion.  Aids-de-camp  are  con- 
fidential officers  who  represent  their  chief  in  many  ways 
and  who,  when  at  war,  bear  his  messages,  verbal  or  writ- 
ten. They  wear  upon  their  collars  a  shield  surmounted  by 
an  eagle,  the  top  of  the  shield  bearing  one  star  for  a 
Brigadier's,  two  stars  for  a  Major-General's  Aids,  so  that 
at  a  glance  credentials  are  attested. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Herbert  J.  Brees  is  Chief  of  Staff, 
executive  officer  for  the  Division  Commander,  responsible 
for  the  workings  of  the  Staff  Officers,  and  Assistant  to  the 
Commanding  Officer,  supervising  and  co-ordinating  the 
work  of  the  entire  command.  His  appropriate  insignia  is 
a  spread  eagle  above  one  star.  Col.  Brees  was  born  in 
Wyoming  and,  just  out  of  college,  was  appointed  from 
civil  life  in  1898  when  there  was  dearth  of  officers  for  the 
Spanish-American  War,  after  which  he  entered  the  In- 
fantry and  Cavalry  School  and  Was  Honor  Graduate  in 


94  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

1903.  Two  years  later  he  was  graduated  from  the  Staff 
Officers  College,  and  two  years  thereafter,  from  the  Army 
War  College.  Probably  that  exhausted  the  college  supply, 
at  any  rate  he  served  in  Texas  during  the  Border  troubles 
and  then  became  assistant  at  Plattsburg  Training  Camp. 
He  came  to  Camp  Lewis  September  1,  1917  as  Chief  of 
Staff,  whose  principal  peace  duty  is  supervising  camp 
training.  No  wonder  every  informed  visitor  who  has  seen 
the  other  cantonments  exclaims  over  the  advanced  train- 
ing of  this  one,  with  a  co-ordinating  officer  so  prepared. 
Col.  Brees  is  strong  for  universal  service.  Says  he,  "Would 
anyone  care  to  live,  even  in  this  boasted  Twentieth  Cent- 
ury, in  a  city  without  a  police  force?  Preparedness  is  the 
Policing  of  a  Nation."  He  certainly  looks  personally  pre- 
pared for  any  attack,  sitting  at  the  right  of  Gen.  Greene 
in  this  group.  As  a  photograph  this  picture  was  a  success, 
but  it  hardly  seems  possible  that  many  genial  friendly 
gentlemen  could  possibly  look  so  grim  and  uncompromis- 
ing, not  to  say  vicious.  As  Hun  exterminators,  however 
their  faces  are  their  fortunes.  Gen.  Greene  in  the  center  is 
all  but  unrecognizable.  Behind  him  sits  his  son,  with  Capt. 
Welty  at  his  right.  At  the  left  of  the  General,  Division- 
Surgeon  Field  stares  out  as  if  upon  something  to  be  borne 
no  longer — Division  Surgeons  have  borne  much  through 
the  ages  since  the  two  sons  of  ^Esculapius  held  that  com- 
mission with  the  Greek  army.  The  man  behind  him, 
because  of  the  wristwatch  has  by  some  been  recognized  as 
Lieut.  Raymond,  and  the  one  clasping  his  knee  with  foot 
braced  for  the  worst,  is  Maj.  Manley,  though  hitherto  he 
has  hidden  his  sorrows  from  the  world  under  a  smile.  The 
next  grim  personage  is  genial  Major,  later  Lieut.-Col. 
Herring,  Ordnance  Officer.  On  Col.  Brees'  right  is 
Lt.  Col.  Coleman.  He  is  not  handcuffed,  though  it  would 
seem  safer — he  is  one  of  the  finest  looking  men  on  the  can- 
tonment—  and  the  next  is  Judge-Advocate  Strong.  The  of- 
ficer beyond  who  looks  as  if  this  were  the  last  thing  he 
intended  to  bear,  is  Maj.  Cummins;  and  the  end  man  is, 
I  suspect,  Maj.  Wyman,  but  I  am  not  sure.  Because  of 
his  gray  mustache,  that  is  probably  Maj.  Smith,  a  dis- 


CAMP  LEWIS  95 

tinguished  looking  man,  in  the  flesh — the  one  behind  Col. 
Coleman.  Since  Capt.  Cook  appears  as  a  white  man  else- 
where, it  is  just  as  well  not  to  mention  that  the  Chinamen 
next  the  Major  is  he,  nor  is  it,  perhaps,  kind  nor  respect- 
ful to  name  two  or  three  others  recognized. 

Major  Fred  W.  Manley  was  graduated  at  West  Point 
in  1905.  He  spent  two  years  and  a  half  mapping  the 
island  of  Luzon  and  was  then  ordered  back  as  instructor 
at  the  U.  S.  Military  Academy.  He  was  with  Gen.  Funston 
at  Vera  Cruz  and  was  appointed  Municipal  Treasurer  in 
the  office  of  the  Provost-Marshal.  This,  as  a  purist  would 
say,  "was  sure  some  job,"  for  the  Mexicans  are  taxed  for 
their  very  thoughts.  At  Plattsburg  he  was  Adjutant  of  a 
New  York  regiment,  was  attached  to  the  First  Officers 
Training  Camp,  and  at  the  end  of  August  last  year  be- 
came Division  Adjutant  at  Camp  Lewis.  He  wears  a 
shield  with  one  large  and  several  smaller  stars  upon  it. 

Maj.  Manley  is  literally  a  human  document.  All  cor- 
respondence to  and  from  the.  command  passes  through 
him;  he  is  charged  with  its  records;  under  direction  of 
the  Commandant  and  the  supervision  of  the  Chief  of  Staff, 
he  issues  all  orders  to  the  Division.  During  the  first  days 
of  receiving  the  draft  and  assigning  it  to  organizations, 
last  September,  there  were  no  precedents  to  follow,  but 
now,  through  Personel  Officer  Capt.  Coman's  co-ordinat- 
ing office,  perfect  system  has  'been  established.  Succeeding 
Division  Officers  will  follow  these  pioneers  and  possess  the 
land.  During  the  absence  of  Col.  Brees  in  Europe,  Maj. 
Manley,  as  ranking  officer,  was  Acting  Chief  of  Staff.  He 
is  now  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

*  $  jfc  %  *  sfc  %  sfc  :je  :fc 

Another  of  the  Division  Administrative  Staff,  Major 
Ralph  E.  Herring,  belongs  both  to  Artillery  and  Infantry 
with  overlappings,  one  would  think,  into  Cavalry,  Com- 
missary and  Trains.  His  department  furnishes  every- 
thing in  the  way  of  arms,  automatics,  ammunition,  rifles, 
bayonets,  trench  knives,  pistols,  grenades,  cannon,  cais- 
sons, mortars,  shells,  everything  used  in  killing,  as  he  says ; 
trucks,  wagons,  saddles,  and  all  equipment  to  get  men  and 


96  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

ammunition  there  to  do  the  fighting,  down  to  belts  and 
buckles;  and  even  table  ordnance,  for  after  all  food  wins 
the  war,  and  knives,  forks,  spoons,  canteens  are  its  small 
arms.  So  that  Maj.  Herring,  keeping  the  entire  Division 
supplied  with  all  such  material  death,  and  the  ammunition 
required  for  army  practice  in  dealing  it,  is  not  of  the 
ranks  of  the  unemployed.  Nor  did  he  happen  along  as 
the  position  was  to  be  filled.  Maj.  Herring  has  fought  in 
three  wars,  volunteering  from  his  native  state,  Minnesota, 
for  the  Spanish-American  to  begin  with,  and  he  will  see 
plenty  of  service  before  he  is  retired,  for  he  was  born  in 
1877.  He  was  a  "distinguished  graduate"  of  the  Coast 
Artillery  School  in  1908,  and  from  an  advanced  course  in 
1912,  having  been  appointed  Captain  of  the  1st  Artillery 
Corps  the  preceding  year.  He  came  to  Camp  Lewis  the 
1st  of  September  1917  as  Major,  and  was  appointed  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel in  May.  Quiet,  pleasant,  calm,  one  can 
scarcely  connect  him  with  so  wide  a  knowledge  of  death- 
dealing  missiles,  I  had  almost  written  missives  which,  in- 
deed, they  are,  for  they  spell  Peace,  at  the  best,  while  their 
star  shells  serve  to  illumine  sign  posts  which  Prussians, 
Austrians,  Turks,  Infidels  all,  cannot  but  read  as  they  toil 
along  their  lost  territory — 


TO  LIBERTY 


Maj.  Avery  D.  Cummins,  Division  Inspector,  and  Maj. 
Manley  were  classmates.  The  former  was  born  in 
Spokane  and  has  been  stationed  in  the  West  most  of  his 
Service,  upon  the  Ute  Reservation,  at  Nome,  at  the  first 
mobilization  at  San  Antonio,  and  upon  the  Panama  Canal 
where  he  went  with  the  first  regiment,  the  10th  Infantry. 
He  watched  the  great  canal's  construction,  and  guarded 
its  locks  until  they  unlocked  the  Pacific  to  the  Atlantic. 
He  had  been  with  Gen.  Greene  for  six  years,  and,  like 
everyone  else  who  has  been  associated  with  him,  supposes 
there  are  others  as  good,  but  is  well  content  to  take  it  by 
hearsay. 

Maj.  Cummins,  though  young  enough  to  have  been 
represented  in  the  Civil  War,  so  to  speak,  by  a  grandfather 


CAMP  LEWIS  97 

who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Walla  Walla,  Wash- 
ington, exercises  oversight  over  the  entire  Division  and 
its  officers  as  to  efficiency,  discipline  and  general  conduct, 
inspects  every  variety  of  supplies,  arms,  and  equipment, 
the  expenditures  for  public  property,  the  accounts  of  of- 
ficers responsible  for  those  expenditures,  oversees  conser- 
vation of  stores,  and  atop  all  this,  suggests  betterment  and 
correction — seems  as  if  that  is  all.  He  is  the  "Bulldog 
of  the  Treasury."  To  be  sure  he  has  seven  regimental 
officers  and  eleven  lieutenants  under  him  for  details  of  in- 
fantry, artillery,  base  hospital  and  so  on,  but  even  at  that 
he  can  scarcely  be  "as  idle  as  a  painted  ship  upon  a  painted 
ocean,"  he  has  to  move.  No  wonder  his  insignia  is  the 
fasces — a  bundle  of  rods  bound  to  an  ax  which  Roman 
magistrates  had  carried  before  them  as  sign  of  authority: 
rods  for  correction,  ax  to  hew  away  if  milder  means  pre- 
vail not.  The  fasces  is  crossed  by  a  sword  over  a  wreath 
bearing  a  French  motto  which,  freely  translated  into 
Americanese  is,  "Be  sure  you're  right,  then  go  ahead,"  a 
fit  motto  for  a  position  requiring  so  much  judgment,  decis- 
ion, and  force.  Every  officer  is  required  to  register  his 
finger  prints  as  means,  with  photograph,  tag,  and  the  like, 
of  identification  in  event  of  casualty  in  France.  Maj.  Cum- 
mins' finger  print  would  surely  be  sufficient  without 
further  identification:  it  must  be  a  swirl  of  lines  for, 
that  he  has  served  well — Look  Around. 

Capt.  Daniel  J.  Coman,  Divisional  Personnel  Officer, 
went  to  the  First  Training  Camp  at  the  Presidio  from 
Portland — wonder  if  there  is  a  man  left  in  that  patriotic 
city — and  came  to  Camp  Lewis  in  August.  In  the  rush 
of  thousands  of  drafted  men,  it  was  a  difficult  beginning, 
but  Capt.  Coman's  system  is  now  simple  and  effective.  You 
home  people  are  more  interested  in  the  work  of  his  office 
than  you  know.  Every  man  that  has  ever  entered  Camp 
Lewis  has  his  individual  number.  Any  man  still  in  the 
cantonment  can  be  located  at  once,  transfers  being  im- 
mediately reported.  Company  by  Company,  information 
is  carded  and  lists  alphabetically  arranged.  Statistics  as 
to  relatives  are  kept,  and  this  great  card  section  goes  with 

§  8 


98 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


the  Division  to  France.  First-Lieutenant  Dorton  is  the 
Personnel  Officer  and  Statistician  and  Second-Lieutenant 
Barrett  has  charge  of  war  risk  insurance  cards. 

Every  recruit  fills  out  a  card  supplying  various  in- 
formation, such  as  his  occupation  in  civil  life,  how  long 
pursued,  how  long  in  one  place,  at  what  salary  etc.  This 


CAPT.  DANIEL  J.  COMAN 

card  is  guaged  by  lines,  at  the  top,  and  upon  its  edge  are 
two  "flags,"  bits  of  celluloid,  orange  for  ordinary,  green 
for  expert — should  think  they  would  be  reversed.  At  a 
glance,  an  accustomed  eye  can  tell  just  what  degree  of 
skill  the  man  indexed  possesses.  A  recruit  also  expresses 
his  preference  for  certain  service  and  in  assigning  him  to 


CAMP   LEWIS  99 

an  organization,  this  preference  is  considered  if  possible, 
either  then  or  later.  So  that  the  Personnel  office  has  much 
to  do  with  placing  a  square  peg  in  a  square  hole  and  a 
round  in  a  round,  conducing  greatly  to  personal  content 
and  army  efficiency.  Western  ranch  men,  for  instance, 
prefer  the  Cavalry,  but  in  this  case  must  be  content  with 
the  Remount.  Some  men  have  never  liked  their  trades  or 
occupations  and  welcome  assignment  to  something  new. 
If  any  trade  worker  is  needed  on  the  cantonment  he  can 
be  immediately  located  and  secured  through  this  card 
index.  Once,  a  regiment  desired  a  horseshoer,  reference 
to  this  department  showed  that  an  expert  was  connected 
with  it,  and  he  was  assigned  to  the  work.  Gas  engine  men 
were  needed  at  Kelly  Field  and  they  were  supplied  from 
Camp  Lewis  in  this  way.  Capt.  Coman  has  also  lists  of 
Religious  Objectors,  who  are  assigned,  as  far  as  may  be, 
to  such  units  as  do  not  offend  their  consciences.  Many  of 
these,  by  the  way,  have  seen  the  light. 

Mrs.  Coman  was  a  Red  Cross  Nurse  in  Portland  before 
her  marriage  at  Christmas,  and  had  expected  to  go  with 
the  Portland  unit  which  was  lately  mustered  into  service 
abroad.  The  United  States,  however,  refuses  passports  to 
all  women  whose  husbands  serve  in  the  allied  armies,  so 
Mrs.  Coman  returned  to  Portland  as  nurse,  releasing  one 
who  may  go  overseas.  At  this  time  there  is  abundant  use 
for  the  old  English  motto. 


American  of  Americans  is  Major  George  V.  Strong, 
Division  Judge-Advocate  at  Camp  Lewis.  From  Elder 
John  Strong  down,  the  Strong's  "haven't  missed  a  scrap." 
Several  took  a  hand  in  the  French  and  Indian;  they  were 
Strong  in  the  Revolution,  Captain  Richard  was  killed  in 
the  War  of  1812,  and  Lieutenant  Robert  P.  in  the  War 
with  Mexico.  Rear-Admiral  James  H.  Strong  also  pro- 
ceeded against  Mexico,  and  commanded  the  Monongahela 
against  the  ram  Tennessee  in  the  Civil  War  Battle  of 
Mobile  Bay.  Though  these  and  many  more  were  Strong 


100  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

for  war,  they  were  also  strong  for  peace.  The  Keverend 
Nathan  Strong,  Pastor  of  Hartford's  First  church,  was 
chaplain  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  wrote  "The  Doc- 
trine of  Eternal  Misery  Consistent  with  the  Infinite  Bene- 
volence of  God" — nothing  daunts  these  Strong's — and  the 
old  account  says  he  was  noted  for  his  wit!  Maj.  Gen.  F. 
A.  Strong,  Commandant  of  Camp  Kearney  is  of  them. 

Those  that  did  not  fight  in  uniform,  fought  as  lawyers. 
Our  Division  Judge-Advocate  has  done  both.  Born  in 
Chicago,  graduated  from  West  Point  in  1904,  appointed 
to  the  6th  Cavalry,  served  in  the  Philippines.  For  three 
years  and  a  half  he  was  attache  of  the  Japanese  Embassy 
at  Tokio  where  he  came  in  contact  with  such  men  as  Togo, 
Sir  Claude  McDonald,  of  Peking  Legations  fame,  and  Lord 
Kitchener,  with  whom  he  traveled  for  two  weeks.  Both 
Maj.  Strong  and  his  wife  speak  Japanese.  Having  taken 
a  law  course  at  the  Northwestern  University,  Chicago,  and 
seen  the  wonderful  results  obtained  by  the  combined  minds 
of  a  physician,  a  probation  officer,  and  a  Justice,  In  the 
Juvenile  Court  there,  he  even  then  began  working  along 
the  line  of  co-ordinating  work,  in  Army  justice.  He  was 
instructor  for  a  year  at  the  Staff  College,  Leavenworth. 
As  First-Lieutenant  he  served  in  the  Mexico  Border 
troubles — the  Strong's  seem  to  "have  it  in"  for  Mexico. 
In  1915  he  was  assistant  to  the  Judge  Advocate  at  the 
Disciplinary  Barracks,  Leavenworth;  afterward  the  head. 
He  came  to  Camp  Lewis  August  31,  1917,  as  Judge  Ad- 
vocate, and  organized  the  Psychiatric  Department  to  work 
with  him  for  the  great  advance  in  Army  justice  methods. 
So  Camp  Lewis  boasts  another  great  First,  the  employ- 
ment of  Psychiatry,  considering  the  individual  accused, 
rather  than  the  offense  as  belonging  to  a  class  of  mis- 
demeanors. About  two  percent  of  the  population  are  in- 
sane, you  know,  what  more  reasonable  than  to  suppose 
a  man  stupid  enough  to  commit  a  crime,  especially  in  the 
army,  where  he  is  morally  certain  to  be  apprehended,  be- 
longs to  this  number?  With  experience  both  in  fighting 
and  in  law,  a  Western  man  in  a  Western  Division,  Major 
Strong  admits  a  large  admixture  of  "horse  sense"  in  the 


CAMP  LEWIS  101 

administration  of  his  office.  As  he  says,  the  National 
Army  is  quite  different  from  the  regular.  Discipline  must 
be  maintained,  but  discrimination  used  in  deciding  what  is 
designed.  When  a  soldier  is  accused  of  crime,  he  is 
examined  physically  and  mentally,  with  all  obtainable  data 
as  to  personal  and  family  history,  civil  and  army  record. 
According  to  Major  Smith's  report  as  to  result,  the  man 
is  returned  to  his  home  with  transportation  paid,  sent  to 
an  insane  asylum,  or  tried  by  court-martial  and  his  sen- 
tence forwarded  to  Washington  for  approval.  His  trial 
must  take  place  within  fourteen  hours,  and  thirteen  offic- 
ers compose  the  jury,  with  a  prosecutor  for  the  govern- 
ment and  a  councillor  for  defense.  A  stenographic  re- 
port is  taken  of  every  case;  the  Judge-Advocate  reviews 
this  for  legal  error.  Every  chance  is  given  the  soldier. 
Remember,  ours  was  the  First  Country  to  consider  the 
accused  innocent  until  proved  guilty.  It  is  suggestive  that 
advocate  means  "called  to  aid."  The  Judge-Advocate's  in- 
signia is  a  wreath  with  sword  and  pen  crossed  over  it, 
the  latter  above,  for  "The  pen  is  mightier  than  the  sword." 
Maj.  Strong  has  two  assistants,  Maj.  West  and  Lieut. 
Hoover.  During  the  Judge  Advocate's  three  months' 
absence  in  the  Winter,  Maj.  West  served. 

Maj.  Eugene  R.  West  is  another  good  fortune  for 
Camp  Lewis,  a  brave  soldier,  an  experienced  lawyer,  a 
man  kindly  and  just.  A  Virginian  of  fighting  stock,  he 
went  from  West  Point  to  the  Philippines,  serving  under 
Generals  Scott  and  Wood.  He  modestly  admits  that  "there 
was  something  doing  most  of  the  time."  Severely  wounded 
at  Jolo,  he  lay  undiscovered  upon  the  ground  for  three 
days  and  nights,  in  the  tropics,  without  water.  The  re- 
sult was  ten  months  in  various  military  hospitals,  and  dis- 
charged as  unfit  for  military  service.  Although  a  South- 
erner, he  was  of  the  West  in  name  and  spirit,  so  he  set- 
tled in  Seattle  where  he  practiced  law  for  ten  years.  When 
war  broke  out,  he  was  in  perfect  physical  condition — a 
man  who  had  survived  those  hideous  days  and  nights  was 
destined  for  service  when  needed.  He  came  at  once  to 
Camp  Lewis. 


102 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


LIEUT.  H.  D.  HOOVER 

First-Lieut.  Hubert  D.  Hoover,  assistant  to  the 
Judge-Advocate  of  the  91st,  formerly  a  lawyer  in  Lo^ 
Angeles,  was  in  charge  of  the  last  great  accomplishment 
for  the  Division  at  Camp  Lewis,  and  so  remarkable  was 
it  that  Lieut.  Hoover,  as  Captain  Hoover,  was  especially 
ordered  to  join  the  Judge  Advocate  in  work  overseas,  leav- 
ing nearly  a  fortnight  after  the  Staff's  exit.  This  was 
the  naturalization  of  5200  aliens,  lacking  one.  Of  these, 
2127  were  in  the  Division  proper,  the  others  in  the  vari- 
ous depots  of  the  cantonment.  There  was  just  one  man 
over  1000  Italians;  there  were  960  British,  from  their 
various  colonies;  and  but  87  Frenchmen.  The  rest  were 
from  almost  every  country  the  world  over,  Every  ap- 


CAMP  LEWIS  103 

plicant  was  vouched  for  as  to  loyalty  and  conduct  by  his 
company  commanders.  It  was  certainly  a  strange  pro- 
ceeding, the  First  of  its  kind,  it  seems. 

After  much  study,  a  system  was  evolved  which  was 
all  but  automatic.  The  aliens  census  was  taken  the  end 
of  May  and  the  new  citizens  must  be  examined  and  sworn 
in,  in  three  weeks.  Those  who  have  seen  an  automobile 
entirely  constructed  "while  you  wait"  at  an  exposition, 
and  its  purchaser  take  its  wheel  and  drive  out,  will  agree 
with  one  of  the  Camp  Lewis  naturalization  officers  that 
the  alien  was  passed  along  in  the  same  way,  emerging  in 
forty  minutes  with  citizen's  paper  which  in  the  old  way 
would  have  taken  five  and  a  quarter  years,  some  Hoover- 
izing  that!  Wonder  what  relation  this  Time-Saver  is  to 
the  Food  Saver?  It  is  something  to  have  worked  a  new 
verb  into  the  language.  The  first  step  was  taken  at  the 
Depot  Brigade  Library,  where  all  aliens  in  a  company 
appeared  at  once  with  their  commanding  and  another  of- 
ficer of  theirs,  before  a  deputy  commissioner,  who  ex- 
amined the  applicants  and  issued  certificates  to  all  who 
seemed  fit.  Next  he  appeared  with  the  certificate  succes- 
sively before  the  twenty-four  soldier  naturalization  clerks, 
each  of  whom  subjected  him  to  a  special  inquiry,  signed 
his  paper  and  passed  him  along,  just  like  fitting  the  auto 
with  wheels,  carburetor,  hood  and  the  like.  All  but  breath- 
less, the  applicant  received  his  papers,  very  like  a  signed 
railroad  ticket  from  coast  to  coast,  and,  indeed,  that  paper 
did  translate  and  transport  the  man  from  many  countries 
far  and  far  away,  as  if  by  magic  carpet, — or  Persian  rug, 
since  one  came  from  the  Land  of  the  Fire-Worshipers. 
The  man  from  Monte  Carlo  did  not  know  whose  control  he 
renounced,  shouldn't  think  he  would,  and  gambling  already 
ruled  out  of  the  army.  There  were  several  Russians,  too. 
When  it  came  to  naming  the  ruler  of  their  country,  they 
looked  at  one  another  and  at  the  officers,  and  the  Court 
and — well,  even  the  Judge  did  not  know.  Those  Russians 
were  obliged  just  to  "renounce  the  devil  and  all  his  works" 
and  let  it  go  at  that.  On  the  contrary,  three  Bohemians 
know  too  well  whose  allegiance  they  would  abjure,  the 


104  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Austrian  Emperor's,  and  the  name  prevented  citizenship 
for  them.  It  transpired  all  three  had  hated  Austria  all 
their  lives  and  they  broke  down  entirely,  one  bursting  into 
tears. 

One  proved  valuable  as  interpreter,  a  Second-Lieuten- 
ant, assistant  to  Chief  of  Staff.  He  bears  the  great  name 
of  Italy,  de  Medici.  One  might  have  written  a  fascinating 
book  from  the  material  of  that  naturalization,  a  book  of 
many  heroes  but  of  no  heroines,  except  the  shadowy  ones, 
unseen  of  others,  who  yet  are  the  rulers  of  men's  lives. 

When  large  numbers  of  candidates  had  been  so  passed, 
Federal  Judge  E.  E.  Cushman  held  naturalization  court  at 
Camp  Lewis  and  swore  in  groups  of  men  according  to 
their  nationalities.  June  1st,  1156  were  made  citizens,  but 
six  days  later  1454  renounced  their  birth  countries  during 
one  session!  A  week  later  286  cases  were  disposed  of, 
and  since  then,  18  from  the  Officers  Training  School  have 
received  citizenship.  It  should  be  added  that  although  this 
wholesale  naturalization  was  accomplished  in  record-break- 
ing time,  great  care  was  exercized,  and  that  several  offic- 
ers, beside  the  clerks,  were  present  to  see  that  everything 
was  in  order,  to  check  petitions  for  legality  or  errors. 
Aliens  remaining  in  immobile  units  upon  the  cantonment 
will  be  examined  and  naturalized  from  time  to  time. 

Capt.  Cassius  R.  Peck  is  the  Camp  Judge-Advocate. 
He  has  also  been  president  of  the  exemption  board,  and 
has  carried  on  the  naturalization  of  aliens.  Beside  all  this, 
Capt.  Peck  was  Acting  Division  Judge-Advocate  during 
the  interim  between  the  departure  of  Maj.  Strong  with  the 
Ninety-First  and  the  arrival  of  Maj.  C.  C.  Cresson,  who 
succeeded  him.  Capt.  Peck  was  in  the  Infantry,  obtaining 
his  commission  from  the  First  Presidio  Officers  Training 
School,  but,  having  been  an  attorney  at  Coos  Bay,  Oregon, 
he  was  transferred  to  the  legal  department  of  the  army. 

"So  that  2914  newly  made  American  citizens  went  out 
with  the  91st  Division". 

"No,  2915". 

"How  do  you  make  that  out?" 

"I  didn't,  Judge  Cushman  did.  This  morning,  Friday 
June  28,  1918,  at  10  o'clock  precisely,  he  took  the  bench 


CAMP  LEWIS  105 

and  the  papers  of  Sergeant  Gustave  Carl  Crepin  of  the 
316th  Ammunition  Train.  Though  born  in  Germany, 
Crepin  left  the  courtroom  an  American  Citizen,  and  two 
hours  later  left  Camp  Lewis,  with  the  316  Ammunitions, 
an  American  soldier!  He  married  an  American  woman 
who,  said  he,  was  of  a  family  among  the  first  to  settle  in 
this  country.  His  father  was  a  Hollander  and  his  mother 
French,  but  being  born  in  Germany,  naturalization  was  at 
first  refused,  and  Crepin  actually  shed  tears.  However, 
his  officers  were  sure  of  his  loyalty,  he  was  eager  to  fight 
for  the  Country  he  had  chosen,  his  knowledge  of  German 
would  be  an  advantage;  the  case  was  reviewed.  So  the 
91st  and  Camp  Lewis,  in  this  book  belonging  to  both,  pos- 
sess knowledge  which  surely  cannot  be  positively  claimed 
at  any  other  cantonment:  the  names  of  the  First  and  Last 
citizen  to  enter  and  to  leave  it.  We  have  bidden  Goodbye 
to  thousands,  but  to  you,  our  newest  new  citizen,  Hail  and 
Fare-well  by  land  and  sea,  in  trench,  on  field,  since  you 
fare  forth  for  that  Liberty  which  must  be  to  all  peoples. 
We  will  not  say,  in  the  language  of  the  forked  tongue,  Auf 
Wiedersehen,  but  fare  ye  well. 

Lt.  Col.  Coleman,  Division  Quartermaster,  and  Maj. 
Wyman,  Division  Signal  Officer,  also  at  Headquarters,  will 
be  spoken  of  in  connection  with  their  departments.  Of  all 
the  Division  staff,  and  of  the  regular  army  officers  through- 
out Camp  Lewis,  who  have  brought  it  to  front  rank  among 
the  cantonments,  it  is  truth  to  say  that  they  are  in  the 
Service  with  a  captain  S.  Contending  with  difficulties 
which  will  never  confront  their  successors,  they  have  estab- 
lished a  standard  which  will  lead  their  followers.  Like 
Master,  like  Man,  Maj.  Gen.  Greene  both  commanded  and 
served.  The  91st  will  distinguish  him  as  he  distinguished 
it,  and  the  people  of  the  Northwest  will  bid  him  God  Speed, 
with  regret,  when  he  goes. 


106  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER   VII. 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  IRONS  AND  HIS  XMAS  GREETING — CAMP 
LEWIS'  FIRST  CHRISTMAS — DELEGATES  FROM  PORTLAND 
AND  MONTANA. 

Brig.  Gen.  James  A.  Irons  was  graduated  from  West 
Point  with  Maj.  Gen.  Greene  and  Brig.  Gen.  Foltz,  and 
succeeded  the  former  in  command  of  Camp  Lewis  when 
Gen.  Greene  went  to  France  in  November,  1917.  Second- 
Lieutenant  Irons  was  in  at  the  subduing  of  the  Creeks  in 
Indian  Territory,  and  remained  Second  till  appointed  in- 
structor in  engineering  at  Infantry  and  Cavalry  School 
eight  years  after.  He  was  First-Lieutenant  six  years — 
the  rapid  promotions  of  the  National  Army  were  unheard 
of  in  the  regular — served  as  Captain  during  the  Butte  rail- 
road strike  riots.  He  and  his  friend,  now  Major-General 
Greene,  fought  in  the  20th  Infantry  at  El  Caney  and  San- 
tiago, Cuba  1898,  and  both,  later,  served  upon  the  Provost 
Guard  in  Manila,  responsible  for  political  prisoners.  In 
fact,  the  two  officers  have  been  closely  associated  many 
times  since  they  were  cadets.  Chief  Quartermaster  Irons 
of  the  3rd  Division,  under  Gen.  Bates,  was  recommended 
for  brevet  and  again  in  '99  after  fighting,  still  with  the 
20th  Infantry,  at  Gaudalupe,  Pasig,  Cainta,  and  in  the  is- 
land of  Luzon.  Having  won  so  many  recommendations,  he 
would  naturally  be  rather  an  authority  upon  honor  medals, 
brevets  and  the  like,  so  he  was  placed  upon  a  board  for 
consideration  of  the  same  at  Manila. 

Major  Irons  was  detailed,  1901,  to  Inspector  General's 
department,  became  member  of  the  newly  organized  Gen- 
eral Staff,  and  one  of  a  board  for  Revising  Infantry  Regu- 
lations— recommended  again  by  Chief  of  Staff  Gen. 


CAMP  LEWIS 


107 


Photo  by  Hamilton 


BRIG.    GEN.    JAMES   A.    IRONS 


Chaffee.  Next  he  was  Assistant  Chief  of  Staff  in  the 
Western  Department.  In  charge  of  a  sector  of  San  Fran- 
cisco after  the  earthquake  and  fire,  Gen.  Greeley  mentioned 
his  work.  In  fact,  Brig.  Gen.  Irons  seems  to  have  acquired 


108  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

the  habit  of  being  honored,  and  unable  to  break  it.  In 
1907  he  became  Military  Attache  to  the  American  Em- 
bassy, Tokio,  remaining  three  years,  till  he  was  ordered 
back  as  Colonel  of  his  old  regiment  the  20th  Infantry,  his 
first,  in  1879. 

In  March  1907,  he  was  returned  to  Japan  and  acted  as 
Military  Observer  in  the  Japanese-German  campaign  in 
China — you  remember  it  was  to  the  troops  there  to  be 
engaged  that  the  Kaiser  addressed  his  now  historic  admon- 
ition to  consider  themselves  the  modern  Huns  and  to 
inaugurate  that  "frightfulness"  which  was  carried  back 
and  exceeded  for  Belgium,  while  he  himself  became  Attila 
the  Second,  "Curse  of  God" — and  Man.  It  is  to  be  hoped 
that  the  Chinese  will  have  an  opportunity  to  remember. 

To  return  with  Gen.  Irons  to  the  United  States,  he 
was  detailed  to  accompany  the  Japanese  Mission  while 
in  this  country,  from  August  till  toward  the  end  of 
October,  1917,  when  he  proceeded  to  Camp  Lewis  to  take 
over  the  166th  Depot  Brigade,  and  a  few  weeks  later, 
the  cantonment.  So  it  befell  that  he  issued  the  First — 

CHRISTMAS  GREETINGS  FROM  CAMP  LEWIS 
By  Brig.-Gen.  James  A.  Irons,  in  Command 

"The  Christmas  holidays  are  here  and  with  them  our 
thoughts  turn  to  the  message  expressed  1917  years  ago. 
Yet  at  this  time  the  realization  of  that  message  must  be 
temporarily  postponed.  We  are  at  war  with  the  Hun;  we 
are  mobilizing  our  every  resource  in  order  that  the  Hun 
may  be  defeated;  and  we  are  exerting  our  every  energy 
that  "Peace  on  Earth,  Good  Will  Towards  Men"  may  never 
again  be  wilfully  violated. 

"The  men  who  have  recently  become  members  of  our 
military  machine  are  strong  men ;  strong  morally,  mentally 
and  physically.  Yet  there  are  many  obstacles  ahead  of 
them;  many  hardships  to  endure;  many  temptations  to 
withstand.  As  our  men  have  overcome  such  obstacles  in 
the  past,  so  may  they  continue  to  do  so  in  the  future. 
They  have  been  ably  assisted  by  our  brothers  and  sisters 
in  civil  life,  and  we  look  to  them  to  encourage  that  spirit 
of  loyalty  which  is  absolutely  needed  to  conduct  any  war 
to  a  successful  issue. 


CAMP  LEWIS  109 

"The  purpose  of  the  medical  department  is  to  assist 
in  maintaining  physical  strength,  not  only  by  curing,  but 
also  by  preventing  disease.  The  mutual  assistance  of 
man  to  man  must  be  availed  of  in  order  that  a  firm  stand 
may  be  taken  against  moral  temptations;  the  free  library 
and  publications  are  to  be  utilized  to  the  end  that  mental 
acuteness  and  acquirement  of  knowledge,  military  and 
otherwise,  may  be  forwarded.  Every  opportunity  in  a 
material  way  has  been  availed  of  to  maintain  and  enhance 
the  vigorous  strength  of  our  men.  Yet,  perhaps,  the  most 
important  thing  of  all  is  that  which  cannot  be  represented 
by  more  buildings  nor  apparatus.  The  spirit  of  co-opera- 
tion, of  helpfulness,  man  to  man,  without  regard  to  rank 
or  grade,  does  not  find  expression  in  concrete  terms.  But 
it  is  upon  that  spirit,  already  so  admirably  shown,  and 
upon  the  increasing  prevalence  of  that  spirit,  that  the 
morale  and  efficiency  of  the  machine  so  largely  depend. 

"We  have  entered  upon  a  huge  task,  a  serious  task,  a 
task  requiring  the  concentration  of  all  our  faculties.  But 
at  the  same  time  we  must  not  forget  the  pleasant  incidents 
which  are  so  important  in  making  this  life  a  livable  one. 
And  so,  depending  upon  the  many  material  advantages 
offered,  depending  upon  that  spirit  of  mutual  co-operation 
inherent  in  our  American  manhood,  we  must  look  forward 
to  the  day  when  the  United  States  of  America  will  emerge 
from  this  cataclysm  a  nobler  nation,  and  the  world  a  better 
one." 

Kindly  and  suggestive,  is  it  not?  Thought  you  would 
like  to  keep  it  as  part  of  your  Division  memories.  An 
officer  said  of  Gen.  Irons  "He  is  one  of  the  best  loved  men 
in  the  United  States  Army." 


Christmas,  of  all  Holidays  in  an  army  camp!  At 
home,  some  men,  many,  do  not  hesitate  to  call  "the  whole 
business  a  nuisance,"  and  most  men  leave  its  plans  and 
surprises  entirely  to  their  women  folk.  But  they  must 
have  been  pretending  all  these  years,  safe  in  their  know- 
ledge that  the  home  folks  would  celebrate,  for  the  91st 
approached  its  First  Army  Christmas  pretty  dolefully. 
Excitement  began,  however,  several  days  before,  with  mail 
bags  bursting  and  huge  trucks  bringing  tons  and  tons  of 
boxes  and  mysteries.  When  Mother  sent  Son  a  gift  she 
more  than  often  enclosed  one  for  his  Pal,  or  better  still 


110  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

for  the  soldier  at  large  who  might  lack  a  gift.  Lists 
were  requested  and  individual  names  written  upon  pack- 
ages, companies  received  gifts  enough  for  all  on  their 
rosters;  men  from  certain  sections  received  packing  cases 
"not  to  be  opened  till  Xmas,"  greens  were  sent  from  afar 
and  gathered  anear,  decorations  went  up  and  great  fir 
trees  came  down,  the  cooks  wore  preoccupied  looks,  and 
sergeants  became  even  as  other  men.  The  only  cross  thing 
on  the  cantonment  was  the  Red  one.  Those  who  had 
known  festivities  all  their  Holidays  felt  enlarged  ones  in 
the  air,  and  many  who  had  never  known  what  the  season 
meant,  not  even  that  Christmas  was  any  different  from 
any  other  day — fancy!  caught  the  wonderful  spirit. 
Men  of  large  affairs  in  the  world  they  had  left  without, 
grown  blase,  turned  boyish  and  eager,  talked  of  Christmas 
with  their  fellow  privates  who  had  kept  their  taste  for 
simple  pleasures,  and  with  others  who  had  never  had  any. 
Young  officers  planned  for  "our  men"  and  old  ones  egged 
them  on — My,  but  it  was  Christmasy!  Clubs  of  all  kinds 
and  classes,  orders  which  ran  almost  into  disorders, 
churches,  towns,  schools,  Y's  both  W  and  M,  sent  gifts, 
so  that,  to  make  a  long  story  short,  every  solitary  man 
among  the  camp's  more  than  30,000  received  not  only  one 
gift  but  two.  I  said  solitary,  but  there  was  not  one  soli- 
tary on  the  cantonment.  For  at  least  one  blessed  day  in 
their  lives,  every  man  got  out  of  himself  and  met  his 
fellow  half  way,  and  so  broadening  and  inspiring  was 
it  that  many  a  man  never  re-entered  his  shell.  One  pack- 
age was  addressed  "Lonesome  Boy".  It  was  the  only  one 
not  delivered,  "They  wan't  no  sich  a  person."  Is  that 
not  only  half  of  the  truth,  old  Ninety-First? 

To  begin  with  Christmas  Eve,  did  you  ever  see  any- 
thing more  beautiful  than  that  great,  still  Tree  of  Light 
upon  the  space  opposite  Headquarters?  Hundreds  went 
out  from  Tacoma  to  join  you  about  it  and  to  sing  "Holy 
night,  peaceful  night"  and  "My  country  'tis  of  thee." 
People  who  owned  autos  picked  up  people  who  had  none, 
and  nobody  was  old.  There  were  Christmas  trees  in  Hostess 
House  and  the  Y-huts  and  some  of  the  barracks  too,  hung 


CAMP  LEWIS  111 

with  tinsel  and  stars  and  popcorn.  The  men  of  Capt. 
Queen's  company  of  the  362nd  will  never  forget  their 
tree  which  he  and  their  Lieutenants  Grant,  Enderly,  Dorris 
and  Closterman  had  planned  days  ahead.  It  was  gay 
Xmas  eve,  and  hung  all  over  with  gifts  for  every  man 
next  day  just  before  the  onslaught  upon  Turkey  and 
dependencies. 

At  midnight,  in  the  tiny  Catholic  chapel  over  by  Base 
Hospital,  Monseignor  Neisen  doffed  uniform,  donned  robes, 
and  officiated  at  Christmas  mass,  assisted  by  other  chap- 
lains, the  only  midnight  service  permitted  in  the  diocese. 
He,  too,  sent  a  message  to  soldiers  and  their  families  and 
ended  it:  "And  so,  to  every  mother  of  every  son  I  send 
greetings,  and  the  wish  for  peace  and  the  great  under- 
standing that  must  come  out  of  this  bloody  struggle". 

As  for  the  hospital  itself,  every  ward  had  a  Xmas 
tree,  holly  and  Oregon  grape  wreaths,  colored  paper  chains, 
and  in  ward  73  one  patient  cut  a  red  letter  "God  Bless 
Our  Home"  and  it  is  on  the  wall  yet.  It  was  the  men, 
here  and  everywhere  else  on  the  cantonment,  who  did  all 
the  decorating  and  insisted  that  their  ward,  Y,  mess  hall, 
was  "the  darndest,"  so  remember,  when  Johnny  comes 
marching  home  again,  he's  camouflaging  with  Xmas 
greens,  just  as  Father  used  to  do  about  taking  us  children 
to  the  circus — Father  dearly  loved  a  circus.  Why,  the 
men  made  themselves  into  Santa  Clauses — you  did,  you 
know  you  did!  and  not  another  boy  on  the  cantonment 
except  you  30,000-odd  selves  to  blame  it  on.  And  after 
Taps  Xmas  eve,  Kathryn  Morgan,  nurse  in  73,  whose 
glorious  hair  was  sufficient  to  light  the  way,  and  ten  of 
the  hospital  men  for  reindeer,  conveyed  Mrs.  Santa  Glaus 
Emmons  of  Seattle's  Sunset  Club  through  every  ward 
and  hung  a  great  red  stocking,  traditionally  filled,  to  every 
bed  rail,  over  1000,  for  the  boys  to  see  first  thing  in  the 
morning.  Of  course  women  have  always  known  that  men 
never  grow  up,  their  hair  turns  gray,  they  double  their 
eyes,  and  that  sort  of  thing,  but  its  for  "external  use 
only",  internally  and  eternally  they  are  boys,  our  boys, 
bless  'em.  And  eat!  Why  the  mortality  at  that  hospital 


112  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

should  have  been  frightful  but  wasn't.  Every  mess  ser- 
geant at  camp  claimed  he  furnished  the  crack,  and  crack- 
ing, dinner  but,  surely  Pearson  carried  off  the  honors. 
Though  he  started  three  days  before  with  plenty  of  K.  P's 
it's  some  job  to  use  two  barrels  of  mincemeat,  so  they 
gave  up  baking  pies  round,  and  took  to  tins  three  by  two 
feet.  Think  of  nearly  1500  pounds  of  turkeys —  can't 
you  smell  them  this  minute,  and  hear  the  machine-gun 
pop  of  300  pounds  of  cranberries?  Two  sacks  of  nuts 
cracked  intermittently  like  rifles  on  the  range,  and  think 
of  that  sweet  cider  from  Brown's  fruit  ranch  near  Olymp- 
us— no  Olympia,  but  it  certainly  tasted  like  the  nectar 
of  the  gods,  250  gallons  of  it.  Two  barrels  of  pickles 
were  off  set  by  200  pounds  of  candy.  As  for  that  huge 
Xmas  cake,  with  war  eagles  and  doves  of  peace  perching 
on  the  same  scrolls,  presumably  containing  diplomatic 
correspondence,  it  was  the  only  frost  upon  the  occasion. 
Even  that  said  "Merry  Christmas  to  the  Boys"  and  tasted 
like  it.  If  ever  Reiss,  erstwhile  pastry  cook  at  the  St. 
Francis,  San  Francisco,  made  a  better,  will  he  not  men- 
tion the  occasion?  Perhaps  he  will  even  outdo  himself 
with  Victory  designs  when  the  Ninety-First  "takes  the 
cake"  in  Berlin  and  cuts  it  with  their  trench  knives. 

Nor  was  music  lacking,  former  orchestra  conductor 
Livingston  of  Bishop  Theater,  Oakland,  now  of  the  corps, 
took  his  violin  into  every  ward  and  played  whatever  the 
boys  called  for, — almost  forgot  Tacoma's  $5,000  Christmas 
present  to  Camp  Lewis  hospital,  two  truck  loads  of 
whisky  and  brandy,  confiscated  in  liquor  raids  and  a 
godsend — think  of  that!  to  the  hospital.  The  Military 
Police  escorted  the  gift,  for  obvious  reasons. 

Now  there  is  absolutely  no  connection  between  that 
present  and  a  bar  that  was  certainly  unique  in  Christmas 
decorations  in  the  mess  hall  of  Company  I  of  the  363rd, 
for  even  if  they  were  in  quarantine,  nobody  present  had 
measles,  and  whisky  isn't  good  for  measles  anyway.  Lieut. 
Frazier  admitted  that  bar,  said  they  had  not  seen  one 
since  leaving  California,  a  few  of  the  boys  were  homesick 
for  one,  so  four  bartenders  had  done  their  bit  as  they 


CAMP   LEWIS  113 

saw  it,  though  khaki  does  seem  many  ranks  above  such 
service.  To  be  sure  there  was  nothing  but  pop,  but  it  was 
in  bottles,  and  you  could  drink  it  from  canteen  cups  which 
sounded  liquefying,  and  their  jazz  played  mazyly,  and — 
well  it's  none  of  my  business.  Anyway,  they  had  two 
lovely  Xmas  trees,  one  each  side  of  a  fireplace,  and  O'Neill, 
properly  dressed  for  the  part,  is  said  to  have  come  down 
it.  At  any  rate,  he  distributed  a  thousand  packages  to 
215  men — the  officers  had  been  hiding  them  for  days  and 
had  checked  the  company  roll  to  be  certain  every  man  had 
at  least  two  gifts.  No  wonder.  Did  you  ever  hear  of  a 
Xmas  committee  with  the  loikes  of  thim?  Ancient  Order 
of  Hibernians,  Orangemen,  Masons,  Knights  of  Columbus, 
Druids,  Protective  Portuguese  society,  U.  P.  E.  G.,  Sons 
of  Italy,  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew,  Foresters,  Sinn  Fein, 
Elks,  Red  Men,  Moose,  B'nai  B'rith,  and  I.  0.  0.  F.  Talk 
about  a  Melting  Pot !  It  surely  took  the  warmth  of  Christ- 
mas fires,  and  in  an  Army  Camp,  to  fuse  that  committee, 
not  to  speak  of  the  "stunts  which  followed  the  eats"  when 
a  member  of  a  University  glee  club,  circuit  riders  not 
listed  among  the  Methodist  elders,  etc.,  all  "obliged." 

Upon  that  committee  served  no  Indian,  but  to  seven 
of  his  people  already  in  the  trenches  in  P""rance,  Chief 
Mason,  son  of  the  blind  centenarian  of  the  Quinaults, 
Chief  Taholah,  sent  Christmas  boxes,  one  of  which  came 
too  late,  eternally  too  late;  for  upon  the  Birth  Day  of  the 
Prince  of  Peace  His  Indian  servitor  entered  into  The 
Presence. 

The  Y's  certainly  came  out  strong  at  Christmas-tide. 
Asked  to  take  charge  of  tons  of  gifts,  addressed  and  un- 
addressed,  they  accomplished  the  huge  job  wonderfully 
under  Secretary  Sinclair  Wilson.  From  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Head- 
quarters they  were  scattered  to  the  eight  Y-Huts,  and 
Companies  and  town  groups  hunted  out.  A  huge  packing 
case  was  marked  "For  Washington  Men ;"  the  Fresno  boys 
had  a  large  box  of  raisins;  the  Oregon  Agricultural  Col- 
lege men  received  200  presents  from  that.  They  hunted 
up  all  the  First  Presbyterian  Portland,  members  and  the 

§  9 


114  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Woodard-Clarke  employees  and  gave  each  a  box  from  their 
church  or  their  firm.  Such  a  wonderful  Christmas — wish 
every  giver  and  gift  and  recipient  were  known!  The  Y. 
M's  were  worn  to  a  thread,  yet  their  autos,  loaded  with 
boxes  addressed  only  to  Camp  Lewis  soldiers,  went  to 
every  nook  and  corner  of  the  cantonment,  to  be  sure  every- 
body was  remembered.  Doubtless  many  a  man  that  day 
received  his  first  Christmas  present  and  it  did  him  good, 
no  matter  what  it  was,  for  the  givers  gave  of  themselves— 
"The  gift  without  the  giver  is  bare."  There  was  no  per- 
functory giving.  Leftouts  are  the  saddest  of  people,  there 
were  none  at  Camp  Lewis,  Xmas,  1917. 

As  children  say,  unsight  and  unseen,  E.  W.  Strong  of 
Portland,  never  enjoyed  such  a  season.  The  Apollo  and 
Ad  Clubs  sent  him  as  their  combined  Voice,  their  em- 
bodied Merry  Christmas.  Secretary  Grilley  met  and 
rushed  him  from  one  Hut  to  another  and  to  Hostess  House 
to  sing  and  recite.  Instrumentalists  joined  him  and  they 
even  serenaded  the  quarantined.  People  came  from  Ta- 
coma  and  Seattle  and  Olympia,  and  made  it  home-y — one 
cannot,  touch  the  edges  of  that  Christmas.  Why,  forty- 
five  members  of  Fergus  County  War  Relief  Association 
"dropped  in  from  Montana  to  be  representing  hosts"  for 
a  banquet  at  the  Elks'  beautiful  club  house  in  Tacoma  for 
450  Montanans  from  that  county,  the  majority  from  the 
348th  Artillery  and  the  362nd  Infantry.  Clubs  kept  open 
house  and  detailed  some  one  at  the  'phone  to  answer  re- 
quests for  "soldiers  to  come  right  up  to  dinner."  Privates 
arriving  strangers,  departed  friends.  Dancing  parties 
were  legion  with  the  nicest  girls  in  their  prettiest  frocks 
and  Merry  Christmasest  smiles. 

Much  of  this  had  happened  before,  so  platoons  of  this 
first  Division  will  record  upon  one  of  the  blank  pages  in 
this  book  a  problem  in  Addition  performed  during  these 
Holidays.  Ministers  carried  on  an  all  but  continuous  per- 
formance ending  in  congratulating  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Happy. 

I  believe  in  my  heart  that  Gen.  Greene  is  more  than  a 
little  sorry  that  he  was  in  France  this  first  united  Christ- 
mas of  the  National  Army.  He  would  have  enjoyed  every 


CAMP  LEWIS  115 

minute  of  it  and  would  have  found  some  way  of  making 
all  of  his  boys  feel  that,  depend  upon  it.  For  Gen.  Greene 
firmly  believes  that  this  great  National  Army  is  mustered 
by  the  Prince  of  Peace  Himself,  that  they  serve  under  His 
banner  which  is  Love,  so  that  our  very  guns  do  roar  the 
message  from  Headquarters. 

Glory   to    God   in   the    Highest 

And  on  Earth  Peace 

Goodwill  toward  Men. 


116  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE  166TH  DEPOT  BRIGADE — COL.  P.  W.  DAVISON,  C.  0.— 
CHAPLAIN  FISHER,  A  CHAPLAIN'S  QUALIFICATIONS — A 
NOTABLE  FIRST  REVIEW,  A  FIRST  CAMP  MILITARY  FUNERAL 
— WELCOMES — COL.  HYER,  MAJ.  WHITE — Y-5,  DAVIS  AND 
DR.  WINECOFF  —  EDUCATIONAL  ADVANTAGES  —  EARNING 
HIS  OWN —  FIRST  INDIAN  TO  DIE  FOR  THE  COUNTRY- 
CROSS  PURPOSES. 

The  Depot  Brigade  is  what  might  be  called  a  clearing 
house  for  recruits.  It  does  not  belong  to  the  Division,  yet 
every  man  in  the  Division  enters  it  for  initial  training, 
and  is  himself  studied  as  to  what  branch  of  service  he 
is  best  suited.  After  weeks  or  months  in  this  primary, 
recruits  are  transferred  to  companies  depleted  by  order 
to  other  camps  or  to  France.  The  right  man  at  the  head, 
and  the  right  officers  throughout  the  Depot  Brigade,  are 
thus  of  utmost  importance,  not  alone  in  hastening  military 
efficiency,  but  in  arousing  enthusiasm,  so  large  a  factor 
in  the  success  of  any  undertaking,  but  especially  in  this 
which,  at  first,  perhaps,  is  not  of  the  man's  own  seeking. 

And  again  Camp  Lewis  is  fortunate.  Colonel  Peter 
W.  Davison  organized  the  166th  Depot  Brigade  as 
has  been  mentioned,  with  one  private,  who  constituted  his 
entire  command  for  three  days ;  within  a  month  there  were 
21,000.  Col.  Davison  is  still  its  Commanding  Officer,  and 
barring  a  few  weeks  when  Brig.  Gen.  Irons  was  C.  0., 
has  been  ever  since.  Born  in  Wisconsin,  he  has  known 
little  but  Western  service  since  his  first  post  in  Montana. 
He  was  cadet  at  West  Point  when  Gen.  Foltz  was  in- 
structor there. 

Col.  Davison  is  no  Fourth-of-July  officer.  He  went 
to  Cuba  with  the  first  troops,  witnessed  the  surrender  to 


CAMP  LEWIS 


117 


COL.    P.    W.    DAVISON,    COMMANDING   THE    DEPOT    BRIGADE 

Gen.  Shafter  at  Santiago,  the  signing  of  articles  of  capitu- 
lation, and  the  raising  of  the  American  flag.  He  saw 
active  service  through  the  whole  campaign  in  the  Philip- 
pines even  to  enduring  a  siege  with  typhoid — one  foe  this 
army  will  not  engage.  After  two  years  in  Alaska  he  went 


118  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

South  to  Texas,  East  to  Washington  D.  C.  and  a  place  on 
the  General  Staff,  then  West  till  it  was  East  again  as  Aid 
to  Gen.  J.  Franklin  Bell  in  the  Philippines  and  in  China 
for  the  Boxer  Rebellion.  At  Tien  Tsin  he  of  course  knew 
Consul-general  Knabenshue  and  his  son,  now  Lieutenant- 
Colonel.  Almost  all  the  ranking  officers  at  Camp  Lewis 
are  friends  of  many  years  and  many  climes  and  posts. 
Having  aided  in  temporizing  Philippine  and  Chinese  ban- 
dits, Col.  Davison  returned  oversea  to  chase  Mexican  ban- 
dits under  a  tropical  sun,  then  over-land  to  cool  off  in 
Alaska  under  the  midnight  sun.  For  two  years  he  was  in 
charge  of  construction  wagon  roads  throughout  that  broad 
territory.  When  the  United  States  entered  the  war,  just 
his  sort  of  man  was  needed  to  help  organize  a  National 
Army  in  that  West  which  he  knew  and  whose  men  he 
understood. 

Pouring  in,  the  first  draft  was  necessarily  assigned  hap- 
hazard, principally  where  barracks  were  ready.  A  carload 
of  bunks  would  track,  be  unloaded  in  a  jiffy,  rushed  to  bar- 
racks, set  up,  beds  made.  If  there  were  not  enough,  it 
was  blankets  upon  a  good  big  fourposter  bed — the  floor. 

But  the  next  draft  found  everything  systematized. 
Near  Depot  Brigade  Headquarters  now  stretches  a  khaki 
colored  tent  three-hundred  feet  long,  gateway  to  the  Pri- 
vates' West  Point.  After  checking,  physical  examination 
etc.,  these  recruits  to  the  God  of  War  emerge  from  the 
long  tent  as  strange  as  if  just  landed  upon  his  planet 
Mars.  If  there  is  a  minute  from  cradle  to  grave  when  the 
young  Martian  appreciates  a  Hail-fellow-well-met  it  is 
that,  and  he  receives  it  at  the  very  tentflap,  be  it  the  mid- 
dle of  the  night,  or  worse,  the  ghostly  chill  of  just  before 
dawn,  in  which  case  the  extended  hand  holds  a  cup  of  hot 
coffee.  It  is  a  young  fellow  from  Y-5  as  he  at  once  calls 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association's  Hut  Number 
Five,  to  be  formal  for  once.  A  fellow  would  study  a  recipe 
for  stove  polish  under  such  circumstances,  so  he  reads 
every  word  upon  the  card  handed  him  as  he  starts  for 
barracks,  inviting  him  to  Y-5's  reading  room  with  its  big 
stone  fireplace  and  thousand  volumes,  or  its  writing  room 


CAMP   LEWIS 


119 


with  free  stationery — the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  buys  its  ink,  literally, 
by  the  barrel,  and  its  stationery,  one  supposes,  by  the 
paper-mill — to  free  concerts  and  movies  and  boxing,  meet- 
ings, classes  for  anything  he  elects  to  study,  beside  which 
stamps,  money  orders,  candy  and  tobacco  are  sold,  and 
friends  are  waiting.  As  a  young  fellow  said:  "I  ate  up 
that  card  and  I  hiked  to  Y-5  first  chance  and  began  to 
feel  human  again.  I  had  felt  like  a  stray  dog,  would  have 
answered  to  the  name  Tige." 

Col.  Davison  is  interested  in  everything  that  advances 
his  command.     Before  the  camp  theater  was  ready,  the 


DEPOT    BRIGADE    LIBRARY 

Depot  Brigade  had  its  own,  built  and  equipped  by  its  men. 
they  built  and  furnished  with  the  proceeds  from  a  vaude- 
They  decided  upon  an  assembly  hall  and  a  library  which 
ville  early  in  February.  This  was  so  clever  that  four  per- 
formances turned  away  crowds  and  was.  repeated.  All 
talent  was  from  the  Depot  Brigade  or  from  men  who  had 
passed  into  other  units,  and  were  ex-professionals.  So  its 
Library  has  a  huge  stone  fire-place  surrounded  by  a  wide 
circle  of  armchairs.  An  iron  kettle  swings  from  a  crane, 
long-handled  poppers  and  marshmallow  forks  hang  at  its 
sides,  long  they  must  be,  for  the  huge  rustic  woodbox  con- 


120  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

tains  logs.  Beside  the  poppers  hangs  a  large  galvanized 
pan  and  upon  a  shelf  stand  salt  and  melted-butter  pot. 
In  the  center  of  the  long  hall  are  racks  of  "home  papers." 
There  are  many  magazines  and  seven-thousand  well  chosen 
books.  This  is  one  of  the  branches  of  the  Base  Library. 
At  the  end  is  a  stage  for  the  jazz  band — you  know  we 
have  the  best,  of  course,  every  one  has — and  in  a  moment 
the  floor  can  be  cleared  for  dancing.  There  is  a  bench 
swung  by  chains  from  a  ceiling  hung  with  Japanese  lan- 
terns. The  windows  are  curtained,  everything  stained 
green  and  brown,  quite  like  the  home  club  only  more  men 
with  broader  views  and  more  interesting  experiences  drop 
in.  You  may  meet  any  kind  of  a  man  in  the  Library  of 
the  166th  Depot  Brigade  except  one  only,  a  Snob.  There 
was  one  at  the  cantonment,  but  he  has  gone. 

The  matter  of  clothes  has  had  much  to  do  with  real 
fraternities,  distinguished  by  no  pins,  whose  suits  are 
identical  in  material  and  cut;  whose  shoes  and  hats  differ 
only  in  size,  where  no  man  wears  a  four-in-hand  and  none 
a  worn  readymade  tie.  There  is  truth  in  the  old  saying 
that  the  consciousness  of  being  correctly  dressed  confers 
a  serenity  which  religion  is  powerless  to  bestow. 

Speaking  of  religion,  Chaplain  William  Loren  Fisher 
sits  over  in  the  Library's  corner,  that  is,  his  chair  is  there, 
but  the  Lieutenant  is  seldom  stationary,  with  several 
thousands  to  be  big-brothered.  He  is  big  too,  body,  mind 
and  heart.  A  well-meaning  enthusiast  said,  "He  puts  jazz 
into  religion."  Lieut.  Fisher  has  shot  Kodiak  bears  in 
Alaska,  which  takes  nerve  and  even  foolhardiness  when 
hunted  alone,  as  he  hunted.  He  is  an  angler,  too,  and 
with  Peter  of  old  responded  to  the  '  'Come  and  I  will 
make  thee  fishers  of  men.'  He  is  a  Fisher  of  men  who 
plays  many  flies.  He  organized  a  baseball  team  in  his 
Seattle  church,  though  some  insinuate  that  it  was  to  show 
off  his  own  batting.  He  delivered  his  salutary  in  Greek 
when  graduated  from  Bethany  College,  West  Virginia, 
took  a  degree  from  Yale,  went  to  Oxford  for  further  study, 
and  traveled  widely  in  Europe  before  settling  to  a  large 
New  York  city  pastorate.  Yes,  they  need  an  all-around 


CAMP   LEWIS  121 

man  for  chaplain  of  the  166th  Depot  Brigade,  and  they 
have  him. 

A  chaplain's  insignia  is  a  silver  cross  upon  the  collar. 
A  lady  at  camp  who  had  just  met  a  Catholic  chaplain  and 
noted  this  cross  was  introduced  to  Lieut.  Fisher.  Glanc- 
ing at  the  cross  she  said,  "Glad  to  meet  you,  Father 
Fisher." 

"Not  I,"  laughed  the  chaplain,  "I  am  father  to  nothing 
and  nobody.  I'm  an  old  bachelor,"  though  old  he  is  not. 

By  the  way,  it  does  seem  that  the  chaplains'  age  limit, 
forty,  should  be  extended,  especially  as,  by  international 
law,  they  are  not  allowed  to  bear  arms;  also  that  they 
should  acquire  higher  rank  than  First-  lieutenant  from 
which  now  they  cannot  rise  for  seven  years.  This  puts 
men  of  culture,  experience  and  success,  all  of  which  they 
are  required  to  be,  at  a  serious  disadvantage  in  dealing 
with  those  of  higher  rank.  Requirements  at  Washington 
D.  C.,  for  chaplains  are  rigid,  and  a  local  army  board 
passes  besides,  upon  their  personality  and  ability  to  deal 
with  men :  No  weaklings  nor  "cissies"  wanted.  Most 
chaplains  have  resigned  large  churches  to  enter  this  ser- 
vice. For  these  reasons,  chaplains  are  scarce;  there  are 
but  ten  at  Camp  Lewis.  General  Pershing  considers  them 
so  important  at  the  front  that  he  cabled  for  at  least  six 
to  each  regiment  of  three  thousand  six  hundred  men. 
Camp  Lewis  averages  about  one  to  four-thousand  men,  or 
more.  Do?  Nothing  but  assist  with  the  education  of 
soldiers,  mornings;  with  athletics,  afternoons;  with  their 
entertainments  etc.  evenings;  visit  their  sick  at  infirmaries 
and  base  hospital,  and  the  guardhouse  prisoners  if  they 
ask  for  the  chaplain  or  wish  him  for  council  at  trials ;  pull 
men  out  of  their  "slough  of  despond,"  act  as  regimental 
postmaster,  speak  at  six  or  eight  services  on  Rest  Day, 
and  other  things  to  while  away  the  time.  So  a  chaplain 
can  be  neither  long-faced  nor  long-winded,  his  must  really 
be  a  gos-pel,  joy-tidings.  As  he  goes  into  the  fighting  zone, 
he  must  be  physically  fit  to  endure  all  hardships  of  the 
battleline,  and  being  unarmed,  no  coward  need  apply,  nor 
a  self-seeking  man,  since  the  work  is  without  hope  of 


122  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

advancement  and  distinction.  Since  no  man  is  accepted 
as  chaplain  who  was  not  successful  as  clergyman,  it  is 
clear  he  is  one  to  be  a  leader  among  the  men.  The  idiotic 
classification  of  men,  women  and  ministers  is  dead  as 
Rameses. 

Wandered  quite  a  piece,  as  they  say  back  East.  But 
you  see  that,  hitherto,  army  officers  in  blue  and  clergymen 
in  black,  both  are  serving  in  olive  drab,  cut  after  the  same 
pattern,  Loyalty,  and  as  Col.  Davison  said  to  his  brigade, 
"Loyalty  is  the  heart  of  everything."  He  has  the  faculty 
of  inculcating  Loyalty  at  the  very  start,  so  men  are  more 
attached  to  the  Depot  Brigade  that  would  seem  possible 
in  a  body  never  two  days  the  same:  Monday,  more  men 
than  should  constitute  a  Company,  Tuesday  no  privates  and 
all  officers,  like  a  missionary  society. 

The  Colonel  prizes  a  gift  made  by  two  of  the  men,  R 
filing  case  of  slashed  fir,  covering  a  wall,  its  well-fitted 
drawers  made  to  hold  100,000  indexed  cards.  Every  man 
mustered  into  Camp  Lewis  is  represented  by  name  and 
full  particulars.  If  only  skeleton  facts  might  embody  and 
relate  the  life  stories  suggested  in  that  cabinet!  Names 
harking  back  to  founders  of  this  country  for  whose  con- 
tinued freedom  their  descendants  are  enlisted,  and  of 
every  nation  under  heaven;  names  of  men  young  but  al- 
ready known,  and  of  nonentities  who  shall  yet  be  great 
by  reason  of  this  they  go  to  do;  names  which,  signed 
to  a  scrap  of  paper  would  convert  it  into  piles  of  gold, 
touching  names  which  could  not  draw  a  dollar  bill ;  names 
which  but  yesterday  appeared  in  blazing  lights  and  star- 
ing headlines,  or  cut  into  their  sculpture,  scrawled  upon 
their  painting,  or  printed  in  their  books — privates  all. 
Which  will  sound  again?  For  "All  men  are  born  equal 
but  most  of  them  can't  live  up  to  it." 

There  is  to  be  an  odd  but  sensible  addition  to  data 
upon  these  cards,  from  May  on,  shoe  dimensions.  Many 
men  have  been  rejected  because  of  their  feet.  A  century 
ago  Napoleon  said,  "A  foot-sore  army  is  an  army  half 
defeated."  If  he  had  spoken  American,  he  would  have 
profanely  shortened  that  to  D-feet  bring  defeat.  At 


CAMP  LEWIS  123 

camp,  doctors  have  kept  recruits'  pedals  in  order  and  shoes 
have  been  carefully  fitted,  but  now  a  man  must  hold  a 
forty-pound  weight  in  his  hands  while  trying  on  field  shoes 
over  two  pairs  of  thick  woolen  socks,  thus  allowing  for 
marching  under  equipment,  for  swelling  of  feet  and  shrink- 
age of  shoes  in  mud.  Summer  shoes  are  to  be  fitted  over 
one  pair  of  cotton  socks,  but  under  the  weight. 

Depot  Brigade  officers  change  frequently.  Col.  Weeks 
was  transferred  to  command  the  364th  regiment,  Col. 
Offley  was  ordered  to  France,  and  Col.  Hyer  who  had 
charge  of  a  National  Guard  training  camp  in  Georgia  for 
some  months  returned  to  this  brigade.  Under  such  offic- 
ers wonderful  results  are  gained  from  recruits  in  short 
order.  This  was  demonstrated  in  a  remarkable  review 
held  May  17,  1918,  when  10,000  men,  every  one  drafted 
just  three  weeks  before  and  thus  dependent  entirely  upon 
instruction,  having  no  earlier  arrivals  to  imitate,  marched 
to  the  music  of  the  166th  Depot  Brigade  band,  and  bore 
themselves  right  soldierly.  Grouped  about  Maj.  Ger>. 
Greene  upon  the  reviewing  stand,  were  veterans  of  the 
Civil  War  from  the  G.  A.  R.  convention  of  the  Week,  some 
who  had  fought  Indians  in  old  days,  officers  of  the  Spanish- 
American  War,  the  Boxer,  the  Mexican  Border,  a  group 
seldom  to  be  assembled  today,  and  impossible  to  be 
gathered  in  a  near  Tomorrow.  How  many  of  the  thou- 
sands who  passed  in  their  First  Review,  will,  fifty-three 
years  hence,  as  veterans  of  our  National  Army  to  seat 
Civilization,  occupy  a  reviewing  stand?  At  first  suggest- 
ion, few,  for  these  draft  men  are  from  twenty-one  *o 
thirty  years  and  the  majority  of  the  Civil  War  were  boys 
of  eighteen  to  twenty;  yet  people  of  advanced  age  are  al- 
ready ten  years  younger  than  they  used  to  be,  and  the 
training  of  this  new  army  will  make  virile  fathers  of  a 
generation  never  to  be  allowed  to  lapse  into  slothful  phys- 
ique, and  there  will  be  a  "daylight  saving"  of  another  ten 
years.  Our  whole  nation  is  signed  to  a  new  lease  of  life, 
and  though  its  specified  term  of  years  varies,  many  of 
these  marchers,  alas,  having  but  one  year  affixed  to  theirs, 
what  is  a  world-minute  or  two  when  "or  for  life",  and  that 


124  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

life  everlasting,  is  added  to  the  lease?  So,  though  the  re- 
cruits who  took  part  that  May  day  had  not  been  with 
the  Ninety-First  in  all  their  experiences  their  First  Review 
was  unique  and  will  prove  to  the  future  what  can  be  ac- 
complished by  men  following  the  Stars  and  Stripes  and 
backed  by  their  brave  in  other  wars. 

The  Rainbow  Division  in  France  was  called  the  Silent 
Army  by  the  Allies,  but  the  next  will  not  be.  After  this 
review,  the  men  surrounded  a  smaller  stand  and  Song- 
Director  Lloyd  led  the  largest  chorus,  ten-thousand,  ever 
singing  under  one  conductor.  The  songs  were  strongly 
typical  of  two  wars ;  of  the  Present,  Keep  your  head  down, 
Allemand  and  Over  There;  of  the  Past,  Tenting  Tonight 
and  the  Battle  Hymn  of  the  Republic.  So  glad  both  sorts 
were  sung.  To  be  sure  I  am  old  fashioned,  but  don't  you 
think,  yourself,  that  there  is  just  a  trifle  too  much  "jazz" 

in  life  just  now?  because,  you  see,  there  is  death,  too. 

******         **** 

Other  bands  are  envying  the  enlarged  repertoire  of 
the  166th.  Everybody  noticed  the  army  bands  appeared 
to  be  practicing  for  a  grand  ensemble  of  Over  There,  till 
listeners  could  not  down  a  feeling  that  they  would  be  hap- 
pier there.  Mark  Twain,  speaking  of  general  dissatisfact- 
ion with  the  weather,  said  that  everybody  talked  about  it 
but  nobody  did  anything.  Miss  Ray  Sawyer  of  New  York 
both  talked  and  did.  She  found  it  no  lack  of  skill  but  of 
funds;  band  music  is  expensive.  The  effect  in  brass  would 
be  Hunnish  if  the  memory  of  the  trombonist  were  played 
against  that  of  the  French  horn.  Miss  Sawyer  told  music 
publishers  here  was  a  great  chance  to  get  into  the  war 
and  they  enlisted  more  than  $15,000  worth  of  band  music. 
The  Depot  Brigade  is  the  first  at  Camp  Lewis  to  receive 
a  gift  from  their  godmother. 

The  evening  of  the  review,  a  coming-out  party  was 
given  for  Companies  1  and  7,  honoring  their  formal  in- 
troduction into  Camp  Lewis  Society,  as  butterflies  of 
fashion  emerging  from  the  chrysalis  of  quarantine  by 
which  sub-deb  recruits  are  for  two  weeks  enclosed.  Elabo- 
rate dinners  were  followed,  quite  in  Four-hundred  style, 


CAMP   LEWIS  125 

by  (ex)  professional  entertainers.  The  Hawaiian  quartet, 
director  Awai  and  Kalama  of  the  346th  F.  A.,  Gonsalves 
of  the  Motor  Supply  Train  and  Dimond  of  the  Depot  Brig- 
ade, string  players  and  good  singers,  are  always  in  de- 
mand, and  supply.  Capt.  Allen  of  the  1st  arranged  their 
program  and  acted  as  toastmaster  and  Capt.  Zellermeyer 
of  the  7th  was  in  charge  of  theirs,  Lieut.  Ives  represent- 
ing Headquarters  Battalion,  officers  of  both  attended. 
Never  were  debutant  affairs  so  friendly  and  inspiring,  so 
free  from  jealousy  and  heartburn.  In  fact,  the  whole 
Brigade  welcomed  the  newcomers.  The  7th  Battalion  gave 
them  an  open  air  entertainment  attended  by  three  thou- 
sand, officers  and  their  wives  swelling  the  throng.  The 
program  was  so  clever  that  it  should  be  detailed.  It  seems 
a  newcomer  loses  no  time  in  announcing  his  "stunt"  and 
offering  it,  of  course  free,  for  the  entertainment  of  the 
rest.  For  instance,  this  same  draft  brought  a  man  you 
have  probably  seen  in  flesh  or  film  in  the  Pendleton  Round- 
up, the  champion  clown  trick  rider,  a  wonderful  rope- 
spinner.  And  so  it  goes.  No  other  cantonment  in  the 
country  has  held  such  numbers  of  many  kinds  of  artists, 
owing  of  course,  to  California's  large  proportion  of  the 
91st  Division. 

The  higher  officers  are  the  more  exasperatingly  modest, 
in  this  case  you  spell  it  Hyer,  Col.  Benjamin  B.  Hyer  of 
the  166th  Depot  Brigade.  Since  his  graduation  from  West 
Point  in  1893,  he  must  have  lived  many  a  story.  He  was 
Captain  of  Company  L  of  the  6th  Cavalry  when  they 
captured  the  only  silk  flags  seen  in  China,  from  the  Mili- 
tary Governor  of  the  Province  of  Hu-pei.  The  Secretary 
of  War  sent  him  a  letter  of  congratulation  to  be  read  at 
Retreat  before  all  the  troops.-  When  Peking  was  taken, 
Col.  Hyer  was  of  the  small  body  of  soldiers  from  each 
nation  which  paraded  the  Forbidden  City,  that  strange, 
court  city-within-a-city  whose  very  name  spells  autocracy, 
mystery,  art;  whose  precincts  had  hitherto  never  echoed 
a  foreigner's  football,  nor  even  that  of  a  Chinese  not  of 
highest  rank,  and  whose  Temple  of  the  Sun  is  well  named. 
An  incident  of  a  visit  to  Li  Hung  Chang's  palace  was  a 


126 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


COL.    BENJAMIN   B.    HYER 


peculiar  drill  by  his  Chinese  Body  Guard,  and  a  weird 
banquet  of  thirty-two  courses.  Col.  Hyer  has  served  three 
times  in  the  Philippines,  has  been  stationed  at  Honolulu, 
in  fact,  as  Col.  Davison's  has  been  Western  service,  his 
has  been  largely  Eastern  though  he  fought  Mexicans  on 
the  border  for  three  years. 

Another  good  man  for  the  166th  Depot  Brigade  is 
Capt.  W.  A.  Dietrich,  adjutant,  brainy,  known  among 
scientists  abroad,  was  for  three  years  a  leader  in  the 
Boy  Scout  movement  in  London,  and  resigned  a  large 
church  to  go  to  the  Presidio.  He  fought  in  the  Spanish- 


CAMP   LEWIS  127 

American,  and  has  been  in  Europe  since  this  war  began. 
He  has  been  interested  while  at  Camp  Lewis  in  forward- 
ing the  Boy  Scout  movement  thereabout, 

If,  in  talking  about  good  officers,  Maj.  Calvin  S.  White, 
surgeon,  of  the  brigade  were  omitted,  the  Depot  would 
pronounce  this  worthless.  One  would  think  him  personal- 
ly responsible  for  the  health  of  every  man,  so  much  in- 
dividual interest  does  he  take;  a  man  is  not  a  "case"  to 
him.  Some  receive  a  great  price,  and  some  pay  a  great 
price  for  a  position;  of  the  latter  is  Maj.  White,  who  left 
a  surgical  practice  in  San  Diego  which  brought  him,  in 
money,  about  thirty-five  times  what  he  receives  at  Camp 
Lewis.  But  everything,  thank  Heaven,  is  not  paid  for 
with  money.  Note  the  looks  which  follow  Maj.  White, 
rather  than  the  comments  which  are  apt  to  be,  "Now 
there's  some  guy:"  "You  bet,  he's  a  corker."  It  was 
Maj.  White  who  instituted  a  series  of  practical  talks  upon 
personal  hygiene  and  communicable  diseases  at  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  Auditorium  to  which  he  marched  the  new  recruits, 
every  day,  two-thousand  strong.  Then  there  was  a  half 
hour  singing  under  director  Lloyd,  two  weeks  of  it. 

Y-5  is  distinctive  among  the  eight  Huts  in  some  re- 
spects, one  being  that  it  is  adjacent  to  the  mustering  tent, 
and  "next"  to  men  at  their  loneliest,  strange  to  this  new 
life,  to  one  another,  even  unacquainted  with  themselves. 
It  is  significant  that  Y-5  has  sold  $500  of  stamps  in  one 
day.  So  it  is  extra  important  that  the  secretaries  of  this 
Depot  Brigade  Hut  should  be  "good  mixers",  live,  capable ; 
and  they  are. 

"Mr.  Davis?  Oh  yes,  you  mean  Tom,"  a  young  Butte 
lawyer  who  made  twice  as  much  money  the  day  he  closed 
his  office  as  he  does  in  a  month  of  hard  work  here.  Be- 
cause he  was  married,  with  two  children,  the  army  would 
not  accept  him  then.  A  friend  insisted  he  was  cut  out 
for  a  secretary,  while  waiting  hi.-5  chance  to  get  into  the 
ranks;  the  Butte  Rotary  Club  refused  his  resignation  as 
vice-president  but  admitted  vice  looked  bad  for  a  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  young  man,  so  they  elected  him  president-on-leave ; 
his  wife  said  go,  and  thousands  of  men  are  glad  he  did. 


128  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Even  his  temper  is  human.  One  of  the  men  chuckled  as 
he  told  of  "a  soldier  who  tried  to  be  funny.  Tom  made  a 
few  remarks  which  sizzled  and  offered  to  throw  him 
through  the  window.  It  blew  over,  but  Tom's  fun  was 
gone  so  he  calls  out,  'No  use  boys,  I'm  rotten  'shamed, 
Christmas,  too.  What  a  devil  of  a  fool  a  man  with  a 
temper  makes  of  himself.  Well — "  he  turned  and  pointed 
to  that  motto:  Getting  up  every  time  you  fall  down  makes 
you  watch  your  step" 

There  was  another  Davis  secretary  at  Y-5,  son  of  the 
Butte  man  who  gave  the  camp  that  mammoth  athletic 
building.  He  sent  the  Hut  a  six-cylinder  car  which  "might 
come  in  handy,"  and  before  it  was  exchanged  for  a  per- 
fectly good  Ford,  it  did.  A  little  son,  near  death,  begged 
for  Tom  Brown,  cowpuncher,  writer,  the  best  story  teller, 
the  boy's  hero.  But  the  man  had  been  swallowed  by  Camp 
Lewis.  Y-5  would  find  him.  Among  the  40,000  were  two 
Tom  Brown's.  Both  were  located,  the  rightest  Tom  Brown 
in  the  world  found,  and  driven  to  his  little  friend.  The 
Y's  aim  at  being  all  things  to  all  men,  and  they  are  not 
only  hitting  the  target  but,  very  often,  the  bullseye. 

In  this  National  Army,  the  principal  amusement  of 
the  old  one  is  strictly  tabooed,  gambling.  In  Y-5  hangs 
a  poster,  Three  of  a  kind  beat  tivo  pair,  whereon,  between 
the  pictures  of  Washington  and  Lincoln,  President  Wilson 
finds  himself  in  rather  overwhelming  company,  while 
below  are  the  Kaiser  and  the  Crown  Prince,  Von  Hinden- 
burg  and  Ludendorff.  Speaking  of  the  President,  his 
cousin,  Dr.  Thomas  E.  Winecoff,  was  educational  secretary 
of  Y-5  until  May,  when  he  was  ordered  to  France  with  the 
first  group  for  work  among  the  French  soldiers  on  the 
battle  line.  Dr  Winecoff  speaks  French  like  a  Parisian, 
preached  in  German  for  years,  knows  five  languages  in- 
timately, and  has  a  speaking  acquaintance  with  twenty 
others,  a  convenient  gift  of  tongues  in  the  Depot  Brigade. 
However,  the  doctor  does  not  consider  himself  a  linguist 
but  a  mathematician,  while  the  Smithsonian  Institute  lists 
him  among  scientists.  He  has  hunted  orchids  in  wilds 
along  the  equator  and  in  many  a  forest,  only  to  be  him- 


CAMP   LEWIS  129 


DR.    THOMAS    E.    WINECOPF 

self  discovered  by  some  rare  specimens  in  the  woods  quite 
near  Y-5.  These  orchids  live  so  retired  that  they  had 
heard  never  a  word  about  the  war,  and  the  doctor  re- 
moved them  to  a  safer  place. 

Unlike  the  proverbial  Jack-of-all-trades,  Dr.  Winecoff 
has  succeeded  in  all.  As  civil  engineer,  he  built  a  speed- 
way at  Nashville,  Tenn.  Dr.  Winecoff  is  also  a  poet.  He 
was  a  Mississippi  college  president  before  he  was  twenty- 
five,  has  been  professor  in  several  colleges,  twice  delivered 
the  commencement  address  at  the  Univrsity  of  Washing- 
ton, and  for  twenty-five  years  was  an  Episcopalian  rector. 
Then  he  became  United  States  Marshal  in  the  far  North, 
headquarters  at  Fort  Yukon,  Arctic  Circle  district,  travel- 
ing by  dog  sled  or  canoe.  For  several  years  he  "marshaled, 
and  did  research  work  for  the  Smithsonian  on  the  side", 
securing  rare  moths  and  molluscs,  and  has  been  asked  to 
resume  this  work  after  the  war,  for  the  moment  he  heard 
we  had  gone  in,  he  hurried  down  from  Alaska  to  enlist. 
Refused  because  over  age,  he  offered  himself  to  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.,  provided  he  was  listed  for  the  war  zone.  This  is 
why  the  Depot  Brigade  has  had  him  all  these  months  for 

§  10 


130  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

educational  secretary.  He  has  been  a  perfect  godsend. 
Directing  any  studies  the  men  chose,  he  himself  hurried 
along  the  classes  in  English  by  understanding  their  own 
speech.  One  class  of  seven  had  as  many  nationalities.  A 
Hindoo  suggested  time  might  be  saved  by  each  making 
notes  in  his  own  language.  Looking  through  these  notes, 
Dr.  Winecoff  found  Singh's  in  Sanscrit,  which  "happened 
to  be"  one  he  could  translate — as  well  as  the  other  six. 
Yet  about  Dr.  Winecoff  floats  no  disagreeable  odor  of 
sanctity  nor  of  midnight  oil.  His  is  the  applied  religion 
and  knowledge  of  an  all-round  man.  This  suggests  another 
motto  on  the  wall,  "Being  square  doesn't  mean  being  a 
blockhead." 

Our  National  Army,  especially  this  Western  Division, 
is  largely  composed  of  educated  men,  yet  it  has  some  who 
read  no  language.  They  are  immediately  put  under  in- 
struction and  usually  make  wonderful  progress,  grouped 
among  their  kind,  and  taught  by  soldiers.  Others  are 
educated  in  their  own  languages,  but  ignorant  of  ours. 
For  instance,  in  the  Depot  Brigade  a  newcomer  was  al- 
ways "half  a  beat  behind"  in  drill.  It  transpired  he  was 
a  graduate  of  a  European  university,  an  ex-lieutenant  of 
the  Russian  army,  but  ignorant  of  an  English  word,  he 
could  only  quickly  imitate.  He  was  especially  coached. 

One  class  in  English  was  reading  instructions  from 
Washington  regarding  the  treatment  of  women  when  our 
victorious  troups  should  enter  an  alien  land,  a  corporal 
explaining.  It  is  doubtful  if  any  plain  reading  lesson 
ever  drew  forth  more  dramatic  expression,  at  least  of 
face,  for  French,  Italian  and  Belgians  were  in  the  class. 
Another  circle  was  laboring  upon  our  history  of  Revolu- 
tionary times,  eliciting  the  statement  that  this  country 
fought  only  on  principle,  and  compared  our  un-equipped, 
half -starved  troops  of  that  time,  in  tents  through  the  bitter 
Winter  at  Valley  Forge,  traced  over  the  ice  by  their  bleed- 
ing feet,  without  shoes  or  coats,  pay  or  promotion.  As 
the  men  contrasted  all  this  with  their  own  food,  housing, 
clothing,  equipment,  opportunity,  entertainment,  in  the 
best  paid  army  the  world  has  ever  known,  the  identity  of 


CAMP  LEWIS  131 

purpose  of  that  little  Colonial  army  and  this  great  Na- 
tional one  was  inspiringly  apparent.  Many  a  rifle  is 
sighted  by  insight  like  that. 

Right  here  seems  to  be  a  good  place  to  remark  a 
huge  Compensation,  the  wonderful  opportunity  for  educa- 
tion at  Camp  Lewis,  equal  to  any  great  University.  Col- 
lege men  are  brushing  up  their  mathematics,  algebra,  cal- 
culus, logarithms.  You  may  take  drawing,  mechanical, 
typographical,  sketching.  History,  elementary  or  ad- 
vanced, may  be  extended.  Specialists  will  teach  what- 
ever desired,  free  for  the  asking.  Many  a  man  who  has 
longed  for  a  higher  education  hitherto  forbidden  by  lack 
of  time  or  money,  is  seizing  this  opportunity.  Hard  physi- 
cal drill  only  invigorates  his  mind  and  sharpens  his  wits, 
so  his  evenings  of  instruction  and  lectures  by  authorities 
advance  him  much  faster  than  college  periods.  He  wants 
to  learn,  so  does  everyone  else  in  the  class: 

You  may  drive  a  horse  to  water, 
But  you  can't  make  him  drink. 

You  may  send  a  boy  to  college, 
But  you  can't  make  him  think. 

As  for  languages,  native  teachers  for  any  you  desire; 
French  the  favorite,  but  Spanish  a  close  second,  as  after 
the  war  our  trade  with  South  America,  all  Spanish-speak- 
ing peoples,  will  be  enormous,  and  our  returned  soldiers 
will  be  prepared.  Y-5  specializes  in  commercial  Spanish. 
It  is  taught  by  a  last-year  professor  at  the  University  of 
Utah,  who  was  to  have  held  a  big  position  in  South  Amer- 
ica, this.  Speaking  of  Spanish,  a  recruit  in  overalls  came 
to  the  counter  at  Y-5  and  asked  to  be  enrolled  for  it. 
Would  he  like  to  join  any  other  class?  Well  no,  but  per- 
haps they  might  use  him  as  teacher;  he  mentioned  isms 
and  ologies,  some  of  whose  names  I  knew  the  meaning  of. 
Y-5's  French  teacher,  one  of  them,  a  volunteer,  lived  many 
years  in  Paris.  He  never  tried  teaching  before  but  they 
say  he  does  that  as  well  as  he  ran  his  950-acre  wheat  farm. 

And  when  a  former  employe  of  your  father's  is  your 
captain,  and  you  got  nothing  but  foot  ball  out  of  college, 


132  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

and  they  beat  you  at  that  in  camp,  and  nobody  drinks  here, 
and  you're  only  a  private,  and  a  private-private  at  that, 
and  your  diamond  ring  looks  cissie  on  a  rifle  finger,  and 
nobody  knows  nor  cares  that  your  father's  a  multi-million- 
aire, and  when  the  man  each  side  of  you  earns  thirty  dol- 
lars a  month  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow,  and  you  do,  the 
first  you  ever  earned,  it  looks  too  important  to  dissipate, 
and  it  laughs  at  the  five-hundred-dollar-a-month  allowance 
you  have  had  doled  out  to  you  like  a  baby,  and  so  you 
"chuck  it"  and  begin  to  work  up.  You  can  buy  a  ticket 
for  quite  a  way  down  the  road  to  the  devil  for  five-hundred 
every  month,  and  as  you  must  go  back  to  the  cross  roads 
to — oh  well,  he  did  it,  this  spoiled  boy  of  the  Depot  Bri- 
gade of  whom  I  am  telling  you,  just  as  hundreds  of  him 
are  doing  this  minute.  And  when  his  mother  came  up 
from  California  to  see  if  he  could  not  be  exempted,  he 
showed  her  the  stripes  on  his  sleeves,  he  told  her  to  turn 
in  the  five  hundred  per  to  the  Red  Cross,  a  trifle  like  that 
didn't  interest  him,  now  that  he  was  earning  his  own 
money,  and  he  showed  her  around  the  camp,  and  intro- 
duced her  to  his  pals,  and  she  saw  a  light  in  his  eyes  that 
her  idiocy  had  all  but  extinguished,  and  his  captain  said 
he  was  to  have  a  third  stripe,  and  he  is  really  talking 

French  now — and  ALL  is  Well. 

******          **** 

When  one  remembers  that  the  site  of  Camp  Lewis  was 
an  Indian  valley,  and  that  the  last  of  the  Nisqually's  left 
the  cantonment  but  a  few  weeks  before  the  Ninety-First 
did,  there  is  a  strange  significance  to  the  fact  that  the 
First  American  Indian  to  give  up  his  life  in  this  war  came 
from  that  very  camp  and  straight  from  the  Depot  Brigade, 
dying  on  Christmas  Day  in  France,  1917.  His  name  was 
Eli  George,  Squa-De-lah,  late  a  pupil  of  the  Government 
Indian  School  at  Tulalip,  Washington,  a  school  founded  by 
a  French  priest  nearly  sixty  years  ago — and  again  the 
fateful  connection  with  Lewis  and  Clark.  Captain  Clark 
was  young  when  he  came  to  this  coast,  General  Clark  he 
afterwards  was,  and  Governor  of  Northwest  Territory, 
and  United  States  Superintendent  of  Indians.  To  him 


CAMP  LEWIS 


133 


Courtesy  of  Dr.  C.  M.  Buchanan 
ELI    GEORGE,    FIRST    AMERICAN    INDIAN    TO    DIE    IN    THE    WAR 

at  St.  Louis,  twenty-seven  years  after  the  wonderful 
Expedition,  came  those  left  of  another  as  wonderful,  two 
Flatheads  and  two  Nez  Perces,  to  beg  that  he  would  send 
their  people  words  from  a  God  they  did  not  know,  but 
who,  they  had  heard,  had  spoken  to  the  white  people  and 
instructed  them  how  to  live  as  would  please  Him.  Bishop 
Rosati  heard  this  appeal  and  it  touched  him,  so  that  he 
wrote  of  it  and  of  the  long,  perilous  pilgrimage  through 
hostile  country  and  many  months  of  suffering.  The  ac- 


134  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

count  was  published  in  a  missionary  paper  of  Lyons, 
France  and  read  by  a  boy,  Eugene  Chirouse,  who  straight- 
way vowed  to  go  to  that  far  America — "Him  therefore 
whom  ye  ignorantly  worship,  declare  I  unto  you."  He 
studied  for  the  priesthood,  came  to  this  Northwest,  took 
First  special  vows  at  Walla  Walla,  and  in  time  reached 
Puget  Sound.  Many  a  weary  day  has  he  plodded  across 
this  camp,  the  stories  rough  to  his  feet,  on  his  way  to 
Olympia,  his  Headquarters.  He  organized  the  Tulalip 
School,  was  its  head  for  many  years  and  died  there,  where 
he  is  buried,  in  1892,  greatly  beloved  by  the  Indians  of 
"Old  Oregon,"  among  whom  he  labored  for  forty-two 
years.  He  died  just  before  Eli  was  born,  but  the  boys' 
parents  had  loved  the  old  Father  and  the  France  that 
bore  him,  so,  then,  did  Eli;  for  Indians,  more  than  white 
children,  follow  their  fathers'  ways  and  loves.  So  when 
war  ravaged  Father  Chirouse's  France  and  threatened 
our  own  country,  which  first  was  the  Indian's,  the  boy 
went  gladly  into  the  army,  and  soon  to  France,  where,  in 
the  stead  of  that  earlier  boy  Chirouse,  he  lies. 

Another  link  with  the  old:  this  Squadelah  was  lineally 
descended  from  a  man  who  was  m  his  prime  when  Lewis 
and  Clark  came  in  1803,  Seattle,  who  saw  the  first  ships 
sail  into  Puget  Sound,  and  the  Beaver,  first  steamship 
upon  the  Pacific  where  now  such  countless  craft  ride.  Eli 
was  also  descended  from  Chief  Kitsap,  more  highly  re- 
garded by  Indians  than  Seattle,  the  name  of  the  one  a 
fruitful  county's  of  the  other,  a  great  city's. 

When  the  G.  A.  R.  convention,  noticed  above,  was 
held,  Allen  A.  Bartow,  youngest  of  its  veterans,  attended. 
A  thirteen-year-old  drummer  boy.  he  had  been  mustered 
into  the  Civil  War  with  a  militia  company.  He  was 
Indian  agent  at  Suquamish  Reservation  when  Eli  was  a 
young  pupil  there.  Later,  the  boy  attended  the  Tulalip 
Indian  School  where  Dr.  Charles  M.  Buchanan,  distin- 
guished linguist  and  historian  has  long  been  superintend- 
ent. He  it  was  who  loaned  this  cut  of  Eli  George  which 
appeared  in  the  Tulalip  (school)  Bulletin  for  June.  In  a 
letter,  he  explained  that  the  picture  was  made  from  a 


CAMP  LEWIS 


135 


postcard  belonging  to  Eli's  family,  taken  just  before  leav- 
ing for  France.  So  many  have  been  generous  to  this  book. 
Dr.  Buchanan  added  that  part  of  the  school  Memorial  Day 
exercises — his  celebrations  of  all  holidays  at  Tulalip  are 
notable — was  the  unveiling  of  ?  life-size,  handsomely 
framed  picture  of  Eli  George,  which  will  hereafter  hang 
in  Assembly  Hall,  draped  with  a  silk  flag.  The  First 
Indian  to  die  for  the  Country  in  this  war,  a  distinguishing 
honor  to  their  school!  Indians,  by  the  way,  have  shown 
strong  patriotism  in  this  war,  enlisting  in  numbers,  a 


OFFICERS'   CLUB   HOUSE 

patriotism  very  greatly  to  their  credit  when  one  remem- 
bers that  they  have  not  even  been  considered  citizens  in 

the  land  of  their  birth. 

******         **** 

Officers  of  the  Depot  Brigade  have  a  club  house  which 
is  the  envy  of  all  others  at  Camp.  Lieut.  F.  H.  Reimers, 
formerly  a  San  Franciscan  architect,  designed  the  artistic 
rustic  effects  and  the  pretty  log  paling,  which  was  not 
finished  when  this  picture  was  taken.  The  seats  over- 
looking the  parade  grounds  are  roomy,  the  first  to  be  built. 
Probably  the  second  Division  will  have  then  everywhere, 


136  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

but  it  was  Mother  Earth's  lap  for  the  boys  of  the  first. 
There  were  not  even  seats  for  company.  This  club  house 
is  furnished  prettily  with  comfortable  chairs — that  was 
always  especially  mentioned  about  a  place  in  your  day, 
wasn't  it?  Curtains,  too,  though  quite  a  number  of  build- 
ings boasted  them  before  you  left.  When  you  come  back 
home,  you  will  forever  hold  a  different  opinion  of  curtains 
which  you  often,  and  sometimes  disagreeably,  expressed 
before  you  went  to  camp.  To  return  to  this  club-house,  it 
has  a  piano,  a  croquet  ground  and  tennis  courts,  grass  and 
flowers  and — everything.  Col.  Davison  took  a  lively  in- 
terest in  this  accession,  as  he  always  does,  and  was  "the 
first  to  chip  in,  and  liberally,  as  usual."  He  was  glad  to 
have  the  Brigade  own  their  individual  baseball  field — one 
thing  about  Camp  Lewis,  there  is  no  lack  of  room, — and 
when  it  was  opened  he  pitched  the  first  ball  with  an  ease 
that  suggested  he  could  pitch  a  good  game.  In  fact,  the 
spirit  of  Col.  Davison  has  all  along  been  what  has  per- 
meated the  Depot  Brigade,  so  quickly  transforming  "rook- 
ies" into  soldiers. 

Realizing  what  team  work  a  newspaper  effects,  the 
Colonel  was  also  interested  in  the  call  of  "The  Bugle"  to 
15,000  men  in  the  Brigade  when  first  it  sounded,  a  month 
before  the  91st  Division  went  out  You  know  the  363rd 
took  Over  the  Top  with  them.  The  editors  are  principally 
newspaper  men,  in  the  world,  under  charge  of  Lieut.  M. 
H.  Compton  of  Post  Exchange  No.  13  and  G.  W.  Moon, 
managing  editor.  That  the  paper  will  be  bright  and  cover 
the  ground,  not  only  of  the  Depot  Brigade  but  of  Camp 
Lewis  at  large,  goes  without  saying  if  you  recognize  the 
editors'  names.  The  first  marriage  announcement,  in  the 
first  Bugle,  should  as  a  matter  of  history,  be  noted,  Private 
C.  W.  Foster  of  19th  Company  to  Miss  Mary  Spencer. 

Lotteries  are  now  strictly  against  the  law ;  "The  Bugle" 
exposes  an  infringement: 

Uncle  Sam  had  a  lottery, 

To  go  and  fight  the  Hun. 
The  numbers  went  to  Americans, 

Who  were  over  twenty-one — 


CAMP  LEWIS 


137 


Not  to  Frank  Beck,  however,  whose  recital  of  his  ef- 
forts to  break  into  the  ranks  before  his  number  was 
reached,  is  as  funny  as  his  cartoons.  He  was  born  in  Ta- 
coma.  His  father  was  one  of  the  five  original  settlers  of 
the  town,  built  the  first  sawmill,  and  lives  in  Tacoma  yet. 
Frank,  having  been  graduated  from  Stadium  High  School, 
elected  to  become  a  cartoonist.  Without  the  slightest  train- 
ing, he  decided  to  apply  at  the  first  of  two  great  papers 
which  then  stood  for  his  goal.  He  went  to  Chicago  and 


A  few  of  the  "Old  Timers,"  who  have  been  made  corporals  and 
sergeants  watching  the  new  draft  arrivals,  and  remarking  that  "they 
ain't  getting  the  material  they  used  ter  when  they  entered  the  service 
back  in  1917." 

to  the  Tribune,  asked  to  be  taken  on  as  cartoonist,  unaware 
that  such  a  thing  is  never  done,  and  was  immediately  put 
to  work.  He  remained  until  ready  to  go  to  the  New  York 
Tribune,  where  positions  are  only  obtained  by  previous 
inheritance,  and  was  at  once  engaged  When  the  canton- 
ments were  builded  and  occupied,  Beck  was  sent  to  every 


138  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

one  in  turn  to  translate  their  characteristics  into  cartoons. 
Saving  the  best  to  the  last,  he  came  to  Camp  Lewis,  hoping 
here  to  enter  the  army.  When  he  first  mentioned  his  de- 
sire to  Gen.  Crowder,  he  said  that  could  be  easily  managed, 
he  would  give  a  letter.  One  after  another  of  the  officers 
Beck  met  at  succeeding  cantonments  made  the  same  re- 
mark, offered  the  same  courtesy,  with  the  same  lack  of 
result,  until  he  strove  to  look  grateful  and  appreciative,  or 
even  intelligent.  Accumulating  official  correspondence 
upon  the  subject  caused  him  expense  for  excess  baggage, 
he  insists,  and,  still  waiting,  if  another  officer  wishes  to 
consult  earlier  memoranda  upon  the  subject  he  sends  it 
by  motorized  truck.  Meanwhile,  awaiting  the  lucky  turn 
of  Uncle  Sam's  lottery  wheel,  Beck  draws  cartoons  instead 
of  draft  numbers.  Wonder  if  he  does  break  into  the  91st 
at  Camp  Lewis? 

Another  man  who  made  several  attempts  to  enlist  and 
was  as  often  refused,  only  to  be  finally  drafted — which  is 
"another  of  those  things  no  fellow  can  find  out,"  is  Theo. 
Karle,  he  of  the  golden  voice.  He  wanted  to  fight,  he  was 
noted  as  a  footballist  before  attaining  fame  as  a  tenor. 
His  name  was  Theodore  Carl  Johnson  when  he  came  first 
into  the  Tacoma  Stadium  with  his  team  from  Seattle  Lin- 
coln High.  He  had  already  made  the  name  Theo  Karle 
famous  when  last  he  appeared  there  as  soloist  at  a  song 
festival.  So,  thinking  the  army  would  have  none  of  him, 
Karle  signed  for  two  full  years  of  concertizing,  and  then, 
Draft  Number — ,  and  he  was  ordered  to  Camp  Lewis 
where  he  is  assistant  in  Depot  Brigade  Library.  Karle 
is  generous  with  the  beautiful  voice  which  was  bringing 
him  a  fortune,  and  has  several  times  sung  for  Chaplain 
Fisher's  meetings.  His  singing  of  "My  Little  Mother"  on 
Mother's  Day  did  as  much  for  men  as  the  sermon.  He 
had  sung  with  Farrar,  Homer,  Hemphil,  Gluck  and  others, 
now  he  sings  for  his  countrymen  Karle  was  born  just 
as  far  from  one  side  of  Camp  Lewis  as  Beck  from  the 
other,  at  Olympia,  where  his  people  still  live. 

Surely  everything  in  the  animal  kingdom,  including 
a  snake,  has  served  as  mascot  at  Camp  Lewis.  The  39th 


CAMP  LEWIS  139 

Depot  Brigade  has  taken  to  the  air  for  theirs,  though  avia- 
tion is  not  yet  attached.  To  see  their  crow  sitting  upon  a 
man's  shoulder  as  he  walks  about  Barracks  or  perched 
upon  his  knee  when  he  goes  to  town  in  the  bus,  tethered 
in  no  manner,  is  odd.  This  crow  shows  no  anxiety  as  to 
"what  shall  we  do  for  grub  to  ate",  for  the  mascot  would 
die  of  over-eating  were  it  not  he  is  a  crow,  which,  as  every 
one  knows,  eats  his  size  every  day. 

There  will  always  be  more  or  less  jealousy  in  organiza- 
tions, of  course,  but  it  is  true  that  the  Depot  Brigade  feels 
itself,  in  general,  above  a  mascot,  having,  as  one  expressed 
it,  a  mascot  in  its  Commander.  The  officers  felt  that  he 
had  meant  so  much  to  them  and  their  work  that  a  very 
beautiful  reception  and  dance  were  tendered  Col.  Davison 
and  his  wife  in  the  ball  room  of  Elks'  Temple,  Tacoma. 
With  them,  Maj.  Gen.  Greene  and  wife,  Col.  and  Mrs. 
Hyer,  and  Col.  Davison's  Aids,  Capt.  Smith  and  Lieut. 
Ives,  received  the  guests.  During  the  affair,  orderlies  bore 
in  great  masses  of  beautiful  corsage  bouquets  for  the 
ladies  and  engraved  silver  pins  wherewith  to  fasten  them, 
pretty  souvenirs  of  a  delightful  occasion.  This  was  the 
last  large  aifair  before  the  Division  went  out,  but  the 
Depot  Brigade  enjoyed  many  a  farewell  fest  and  jest  as 
the  long  trains  began  to  load.  The  new  draft  are  coming 
in,  the  old  going  out — 

Hail  and  Farewell. 


140  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER   IX. 

SOLDIERS'  SINGING  AND  ROBERT  LLOYD,  FIRST  ARMY  SONG 
DIRECTOR  IN  THE  WORLD — TWO  AMERICAN  WOMEN'S  WAR 
SONGS — LARGEST  CHORUS  EVER  HEARD,  AT  CAMP  LEWIS — 
THE  CHRISTMAS  CONCERT — A  FERRARA  SWORD — MUSIC'S 
SLANG,  JAZZ. 

Strange,  is  it  not,  that  while  all  nationalities  which 
have  come  hither  to  form  the  composite  which  is  America 
have  been  singing  peoples,  we  are  a  people  who  do  not 
sing.  To  Italians  song  is  meat  and  drink,  or  macaroni  and 
wine,  until  they  adopt  suspenders  or  corsets,  then  even 
they  are  mute  and  pay  their  money  to  hear  professionals; 
for  in  this  country  Caruso  sings  for  a  fortune,  and  little 
Tommy  Tupper  sings  for  his  supper,  but  no  one  sings  for 
love.  Once  upon  a  time,  alone,  happy  and  young,  a  girl 
sang  at  her  sewing,  a  man  whistled  at  his  work.  Even 
that  has  ceased.  We  used  to  sing  in  church,  but  the  paid 
quartet,  the  trained  chorus,  the  boy  choir,  attend  to  all 
that  now.  Even  in  the  fervor  of  a  reawakened  patriotism, 
our  efforts  toward  mass  singing  have  been  crowned  with 
a  painful  success,  as  characteristic,  say  foreigners,  as  the 
hailing  words  of  our  national  hymn,  "Oh  say".  Except 
for  their  jokes,  which  were  not  understood  by  the  Allies, 
our  first  army  in  France  was  a  silent  one;  but  no  one 
denies  that  this  youngest  of  nations  shows  itself  as  teach- 
able as  a  little  child,  and  the  next  will  take  the  field  with 
a  rousing  song  accented  by  the  staccato  of  the  machine 
guns,  will  travel  the  weary  miles  upon  rollicking  measures 
— it  is  easier  to  roll  than  to  drag:  even  the  War  Depart- 
ment came  to  see  that. 

In  this  far  West,  in  the  city  of  St.  Francis,  a  merry- 
eyed,  ruddy-faced  young  man  of  fifty-odd  saw  it  plainly. 


CAMP  LEWIS  141 

His  big  baritone  had  furthered  him  in  life;  for  thirty 
years  he  had  sung,  taught,  composed,  conducted;  but  what 
is  the  good  of  a  ten-thousand  dollar  income  when  you  can 
not  do  what  you  want?  Because,  perhaps,  of  his  gray 
hair,  the  government  got  it  into  their  heads  that  he  was 


ROBERT     LLOYD,     FIRST     ARMY     SONG     DIRECTOR 

old,  and  refused  him  enlistment.  He  admit0  that  he  then 
planned  to  dye  his  lying  hair,  fell  a  soldier  about  his  size 
some  dark  night,  strip  off  his  uniform,  leaving  his  own 
civilian  garb  beside  the  prostrate  form,  and  break  into  the 
ranks ;  but  the  plan  presented  certain  difficulties.  He  then 
took  account  of  stock,  Demand  and  Supply.  Wanted,  by 
the  War  Department,  Song  Leaders :  Supply,  himself,  half 


142  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

a  dozen  in  one.  So  now  you  know  what  he  considers  The, 
two  important  things  about  Robert  Lloyd,  that  he  wears 
the  olive-drab,  and  that  he  was  the  First  Song  Leader  in 
the  American  Army,  or,  indeed,  in  any  other.  Though 
born  in  England  and  with  the  superfluous  L  which  spells 
Wales  folk,  he  has  lived  thirty-five  years  in  this  country 
and  is,  he  insists,  Californian  to  the  core,  and  as  he  re- 
marks, pioneering  is  indigenous  to  California.  He  was  ap- 
pointed by  Lee  F.  Hanmer,  Head  of  Music  upon  Training 
Camp  Activities  Commission.  One  month  after  we  were 
in  the  war,  Lloyd  was  in  the  army,  but  he  did  not  re- 
ceive the  coveted  uniform  till  he  came  to  Camp  Lewis — 
his  chest  measure  is  two  inches  more  in  olive-drab  than 
in  dress  suit.  Beginning  at  Fort  Niagara,  he  trained  the 
first  and  second  Officers  Schools  and  one  at  Plattsburg, 
then  as  the  idea  grew,  was  ordered  to  Camps  Mills  and 
Merritt,  at  last  to  Camp  Lewis,  where  it  is  hoped  he  is  a 
fixture. 

Listening  to  two-thousand  or  more  men  rehearse  is 
novel  and  inspiring,  at  least  one  begins  by  listening,  but 
forgets  he  is  not  in  khaki  and  shouts  "Good  morning  Mr. 
Zipp,  Zipp,  Zipp"  with  the  rest.  Mr.  Lloyd  keeps  to  the 
platform,  to  be  sure,  but  he  seems  to  walk  right  'specially 
up  to  you.  His  sole  instrument  is  a  pitch  pipe.  He  will 
teach  three  new  songs  in  half  an  hour,  word  and  tune. 
He  sings  a  line  as  the  percenter  did  in  Colonial  times 
when  they  really  had  congregational  singing,  and  then 
leads  the  men  in  repeating  it,  his  voice  sounding  clearly 
out  from  them  all.  A  man,  who  like  mvself  had  slipped 
into  Liberty  Theater,  said  he  had  never  carried  a  tune  in 
his  life,  not  even  Yankee  Doodle,  but  he  had  actually 
learned  a  song  that  morning.  Although  I  was  a  stranger, 
sympathy  is  written  in  my  face,  so  he  triumphantly  re- 
ported the  same  and  went  out  humming  it.  That  sympathy 
is  now  extended  to  his  family.  He  will  sing  it  in  season 
and  out  of  season,  that  tune,  and  hum  it  in  his  dreams. 

Lloyd  has  already  taught  marching  songs  to  175,000 
soldiers. 

"At  first  I  joined  men  on  their  hikes,  after  rifle  fire 
at  the  pits,  anywhere  I  could  sneak  five  minutes;  now  it's 


CAMP  LEWIS  143 

a  part  of  a  soldier's  routine.  By  Gen.  Greene's  order  all 
will  sing  for  forty-five  minutes  daily." 

The  rehearsals  used  to  be  in  Liberty  Theater  or  the  Y- 
Auditorium  mornings,  nowadays  they  are  held  on  the 
parade  ground  with  other  drills,  he  passing  from  one  regi- 
ment to  another.  Once  a  week  he  directs  the  Base  Hos- 
pital Nurses,  teaching  them  the  same  songs.  Afternoons 
he  leads  officers  and  gives  lectures  upon  placing  and  carry- 
ing tone,  enabling  them  to  call  orders  in  a  wind,  day  after 
day,  without  cutting  furrows  in  their  throats.  He  was 
invited  to  give  this  course  at  West  Point,  but  the  cadets 
were  quarantined  when  he  was  free.  He  plans  to  give 
it  to  the  public  schools  after  the  war.  Robert  Lloyd  has 
made  his  pile;  he  will  give.  Evenings,  he  "tips  off  trench 
songs  at  smokers" — rather  a  strenuous  life  to  a  man  too 
old  to  enlist,  eh?  He  works  harder  than  ever  before  but 
it  is  more  fun  and  nearer  fighting.  It  is  his  Such — "Do 
you  know  what  I  said  when  I  tackled  those  rookies?  I 
said,  Now  Father,  this  is  up  bo  you:  put  it  over,  and  He 
did,  didn't  he?" 

Yes,  a  singing  regiment  marches  further  than  a  silent 
one.  Lloyd  says  they  come  in  from  a  sixteen-mile  hike 
burdened  with  equipment,  the  sweat  irrigating  the  dust 
on  their  faces,  singing.  Mr.  Lloyd  is  even  building  up  the 
health  of  the  camp,  for  the  benefit  of  singing  to  persons 
predisposed  to  tuberculosis  has  long  been  known.  Physic- 
ians prescribe  vocal  lessons  to  develop  the  lungs.  What 
is  not  generally  known  is  that  singing  hastens  recovery 
from  illness,  physically  as  well  as  spiritually.  Long  ago, 
Indian  convalescents  were  required  to  sing  several  hours 
daily.  By  the  way,  I  said  Americans  are  not  a  singing 
people:  American- Americans  are,  that  is,  Indians.  Their 
whole  lives  long,  every  experience  was  expressed  in  songs 
of  their  own  making,  needing,  among  Indians,  no  other 
copyright.  This  wealth  of  material  is  being  mined  by  such 
fine  composers  as  Charles  Wakefield  Cadman.  I  espec- 
ially recall  an  exquisite  song  embodying  ideas  which  New 
Thought  would  claim  its  own.  Watching  and  waiting  at 
home,  as  ever  women  must,  they  project  their  loving  en- 


144  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

couragement  to  the  far-off  warriors,  not  forgetting  the 
hunters  and  those  menials  who  build  the  fires,  nor  even 
the  boys  who  brave  the  dangers  ol  a  war  party  carrying 
new  moccasins  to  replace  those  wornout  upon  the  forays, 
"I  send  my  thoughts  to  you".  No  note  of  fear  nor  sadness, 
warriors  are  to  realize  that  their  loved  ones  are  strength- 
ening their  hearts  for  endurance,  their  arms  for  battle. 

"Ho,  ye  warriors  on  the  warpath, 

Lonely  camping  in  a  land  of  strangers; 
Ho,  ye  hunters,  ye  moccasin  carriers, 

Ye  who  build  the  fires, 
All  ye  who  have  gone  forth — 

Lest  your  hearts  know  fear  in  darkness 
Through  the  ghostly  chill  <of  midnight, 

I  send  my  thoughts  to  you: 
Lest  your  arrows  fall  in  battle, 

Through  the  tender  light  of  morning 
I  send  my  thoughts  to  you." 

Ho  Ye  Warriors  and  The  Battle  Hymn  iO/  the  Republic 
were  both  composed  by  women  of  our  own  land.  The  first 
song  was  born  long  ago  in  the  heart  of  an  Indian,  gather- 
ing its  notes  as  it  came  from  her  dusky  lips  and  mem- 
orized by  the  women  of  her  tribe  as  she  sang  it  to  them. 
The  weird  air  is  as  haunting  as  the  words,  and  Cadman 
has  harmonized  it  understandingly,  adding  his  own  spirit 
to  both.  Are  we  to  have  no  other  songs  like  these  for  this 
war  of  wars? 

Arrived  in  the  draft  for  the  next  Division  at  Camp 
Lewis,  the  very  day  this  was  written,  several  Sioux  from 
South  Dakota,  the  first  of  that  redoubtable  tribe  to  be  re- 
ceived there.  It  was  a  Sioux  who  composed  Ho  Ye  War- 
rtiprs,  and  it  was  sung  in  the  open  by  voices  in  unison,  as 
all  Indian  songs  are. 

I  said  Robert  Lloyd  was  half  a  dozen  directors  in  one. 
At  that  wonderful  Depot  Brigade  review  in  May,  he  led 
10,000  voices.  When — in  England,  I  think — 5000  were 
raised  in  chorus,  there  was  a  conductor  for  every  thousand, 


CAMP   LEWIS  145 

so  Song  Leader  Lloyd  is  ten  in  one,  which  reminds  me 
that,  as  they  are  in  unison,  quite  the  effect  of  Indian  sing- 
ing is  obtained,  sounding  as  if  there  were  parts,  tenor, 
baritone,  bass,  qualifying  the  tone.  A  chorus  of  15,000 
will  sing  soon. 

Already  the  fame  of  Camp  Lewis'  singing  has  spread 
and  many  requests  for  its  repertoire  have  come  from  other 
cantonments.  Mr.  Lloyd  has  never  sung  anything  but  the 
best,  classical  or  modern.  Any  musician  will  understand 
that  it  is  part  of  his  sacrifice  to  give  over  his  beautiful 
voice  to  that  which  takes  best  with  the  soldiers,  many 
songs  of  which  he  has  himself  composed,  air  and  words. 
He  has  also  arranged  with  a  music  publisher  to  obtain 
all  the  latest  Broadway  hits  both  for  camp  and  for  trench, 
Across. 

A  "Y"  man  has  recently  joined  the  force,  Hugo  Kirch- 
ofer,  who  insists  upon  being  called  simply  K,  for  despite 
his  name,  he  does  not  side  with  the  other  K  nor  his  Kultur 
He  has  had  many  years'  experience,  and  will  visit  the  Huts 
when  large  crowds  gather  to  lead  a  short  sing.  Yes,  we 
shall  have  a  singing  army.  "K"  left  before  the  Division, 
and  "Everybody-Sing  Lyons"  took  his  place. 

The  concert  given  at  Tacoma  Theater  Christmas  time, 
hardly  comes  under  the  subject  as,  though  all  wore  uni- 
form, they  numbered  but  one  hundred,  selected  from  the 
thousands,  and  were  trained  singers,  many,  noted  soloists, 
before  entering  camp.  One,  for  instance,  Sergt.  Kent, 
leader  of  three-hundred  Boy  Scouts  in  Salt  Lake  City,  was 
soloist  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints  College  Glee  Club.  An- 
other sergeant  from  the  same  city,  L.  G.  Stookey,  was 
soloist  at  the  Mormon  Tabernacle  and  of  the  "U"  of  Utah 
Glee.  Another  Temple  soloist  was  Corp.  Beek.  A  notable 
quartet  sang  The  Warrior  Bold, — Kent,  Kingsbury,  Beebe, 
and  Broomell.  Sergt.  Harold  Broomell,  baritone,  went 
East  with  the  Stanford  Glee  Club.  Glee  club  soloists  were 
many  in  this  chorus:  beside  the  above,  Atwater  of  Dart- 
mouth, Rankin  of  the  Wesleyan  (Kansas),  Morse  of  the 
U.  of  California,  Snow  of  Valparaiso  (Indiana)  Univer- 
sity, Harry  Earle  of  College  of  Puget  Sound,  Tacoma,  Hol- 

§  U 


146  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

lowell  of  Oregon  Agricultural  College  and  Apollo  Club, 
Portland.  All  these  were  sergeants  then,  but  are  likely 
captains  by  now.  Soloists  for  this  fine  concert  were  Lieut. 
Wilfred  Lewis,  whose  baritone  has  been  often  enjoyed 
since,  Serg.  Perry,  whose  deep  bass  was  popular  at  Panama 
Exposition,  and  who,  like  "Caruso"  Guiseppe  Bondonno 
had  intended  to  enter  Grand  Opera  instead  of  the  Grand 
Army.  All  of  them  have  been  most  generous  with  their 
voices  at  camp,  and  in  churches  and  clubs  of  neighboring 
cities.  Frederick  Hart,  accompanist,  was  a  joy.  Sher- 
rard  artistically  played  part  of  the  accompaniments.  The 
choruses  were  fine  and  appropriate :  The  Soldier's  Prayer, 
The  Recessional,  The  Sword  of  Ferrara,  which  reminds 
me  that  in  a  Tacoma  home,  envied  by  many  a  ranking 
officer  of  the  army,  is  a  genuine  Ferrara  claymore,  or  two- 
edged  sword,  with  a  basket  hilt,  owned  by  John  Christie 
Barr,  a  Civil  War  Naval  Officer.  Something  over  four 
centuries  ago,  a  Scottish  King  offered  a  great  prize  at  a 
tournament  to  the  armorer  who  would  bring  to  the  next 
joust,  the  finest  sword  fashioned  within  his  dominions.  A 
Spaniard,  Ferrara,  resident  in  Scotland,  came  late  to  the 
next  tournament,  seemingly  without  a  weapon,  whereupon 
the  king  demanded  the  reason  for  the  slight.  Then  did 
Ferrara  remove  his  "bonnet"  and  showed  a  blade  wound 
about  his  head.  This  sword  fought  at  Culloden,  just  as 
the  song  relates.  It  has  belonged  to  the  oldest  of  the 
Barr's  the  centuries  through. 

"I  saw  a  Ferrara  at  Abbotsford,  Sir  Walter  Scott's, 
but  I  did  not  know  that  there  was  a  signed  Ferrara  Clay- 
more in  this  country",  said  Brig.  Gen.  Foltz,  adding  that 
every  basket  hilt  was  wrought  in  special  design  for  each 
clan.  Curiously,  even  as  he  spoke  of  Scott,  Thomas  Mc- 
Millan, second-cousin  of  the  famous  author,  entered  his 
home  across  the  street. 

As  for  instrumental  music,  from  regimental  bands  to 
groups  in  each  company,  there  is  no  dearth  of  good  music 
nor  of  "jazz."  The  name  simply  grew  on  it.  Jazz  is  the 
slang  of  Music.  Shall  never  forget  a  jazz  band  play- 
ing for  a  dance  in  Knights  of  Columbus  Auditorium.  One 


CAMP   LEWIS 


147 


man  played  bass  drum  and  snare,  cymbals,  Indian  Tom- 
tom, sleighbells,  occasionally  knocking  a  ball  on  a  wire 
against  a  small  frying-pan,  two-egg  size,  with  his  knee. 
He  and  the  violinist  marked  time  in  the  melee  by  chewing 
gum,  and  the  pianist  smoked  cigarettes,  the  mouths  of  the 
"brasses"  being  otherwise  engaged. 


ANP    THE    BUSY    BUMBLE 

HUT*»     AWT    SO      HAfPIU-e-C-g 


One  could  write  a  volume  upon  music  and  musicians  at 
Camp  Lewis.  For  every  regiment  a  quartet  has  been 
formed. 

Except  for  the  professionals,  such  constant  op- 
portunities for  hearing  good  music  free  have  come  to  few. 
Of  them  all,  and  of  several  composers  at  Camp  Lewis, 
surely  there  will  come  their  own  sturdy  Marching  Song  of 
the  Ninety  First! 


148  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER  X. 

LIBERTY  LIBRARY  AND  PROF.  RUBY — LIBRARIAN  JENNINGS' 
BUILDING — LIBRARIAN  KAISER'S  BEGINNING — SPECIAL 
GIFTS — WIDE  VARIETY  OF  LITERATURE  SHELVED  AND  UN- 
SHELVED — BOOKS  ABOARD  SHIP — RUBY'S  PROGRESSIVE 
SERVICE. 

Music,  Books:  Cradle  song  and  mother  tongue  of  the 
hermit  secluded  in  every  soul — so  when  graduates  aspired 
to  other  degrees,  and  undergrad's  entered  our  National 
Army  War  University,  libraries  must  perforce  be  built  and 
stored.  The  American  Library  Association  campaigned  in 
September  and  raised  over  a  million  dollars.  Camp  Lewis 
Library  was  first  completed  and  supplied  and  is  largest 
and  best  upon  cantonments — "You  say  everything  is  first 
and  best  and  largest  and" — you  can  find  proof  of  every- 
thing so  designated.  In  this  case  it  is  furnished  by  that 
ranking  authority,  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  Dr.  Herbert 
Putnam,  who  lately  devoted  himself  to  cantonment  librar- 
ies, finishing  an  inspection  tour  of  them  all,  in  May,  at 
Camp  Lewis.  He  must  have  been  more  than  satisfied  with 
the  Library  there,  its  work,  works  and  workings,  for  he 
appointed  its  librarian,  E.  E.  Ruby,  organizer  and  super- 
visor of  the  twelve  coast  libraries  at  all  posts  and  forts 
North  of  the  Columbia,  quite  a  compliment,  or  rather 
endorsement,  for,  as  a  technically  trained  librarian  he  is 
a  diamond  in  the  rough,  though  a  Ruby  polished  by  books, 
a  professor  at  Whitman  College,  loaned  because  he  longed 
to  do  something  for  the  war ;  and  he  has  done  it.  Dr.  Put- 
nam requested  him  to  prepare  a  bulletin  upon  this  Camp 
Lewis  Library,  illustrated,  to  be  presented  at  the  Ameri- 
can Library  Association  at  Saratoga  in  July. 


CAMP  LEWIS 


149 


J.  T.  Jennings  of  the  Seattle  Public  Library  came  to 
Camp  Lewis  to  organize  one  and  could  not  at  first  find 
even  the  contract  for  it.  When  discovered,  he  showed  it 
to  General  Greene,  who  designated  the  location  between 
Theater  and  Hostess  House,  and  to  Constructing  Quarter- 
master Stone,  who  ordered  it  built;  but  no  lumber  could 


E.   E.    RUBY,    LIBRARIAN   LIBERTY    LIBRARY 

be  delivered  for  two  or  three  weeks.  However,  both  Gen- 
eral and  Constructor  were  interested,  and  permission  was 
given  to  use  government  lumber,  to  be  replaced  when 
Library  material  arrived.  Building,  from  blue  prints  only, 
began  the  next  morning.  Specifications  arrived  just  be- 
fore the  building  was  finished,  better,  in  some  respects, 
said  Mr.  Jennings,  than  provided  for  in  them. 


150  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Next  it  was  learned  that  coals  had  not  been  shipped 
to  Newcastle.  In  other  words  shelving  and  furniture, 
ordered  from  the  East,  were  not  ready,  so  the  order  was 
placed  where  the  fir  grows,  and  both  were  soon  finished 
and  stained  with  one  coat  of  gray  through  which  the  slash 
shows  like  fuming. 

Meanwhile,  thousands  of  books  from  all  over  the  North- 
west were  being  donated.  In  Tacoma,  books  and  maga- 
zines were  gathered  which  anticipated  their  housing  at 
Camp  Lewis,  being  sent  to  the  National  Guard  camp  at 
Murray,  named  for  the  General  who  had  been  another  to 
recommend  the  site.  These  books  and  magazines  were 
handled  by  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  The  First  Y  tent  at  Camp 
Lewis  had  some,  and  when  Y-hut  No.  1  was  built,  a  further 
gift  of  seven-hundred-fifty  volumes  stood  upon  its  shelves. 
All  these  were  donated  in  Tacoma  and  sent  to  the  Public 
Library  where  John  B.  Kaiser,  its  scholarly  Librarian,  took 
keen  interest  in  the  project.  By  the  time  Liberty  Library 
was  opened,  six-thousand  volumes,  gift  of  Tacomans  alone, 
and  catalogued  at  their  Library,  were  ready.  Thousands 
more  were  at  the  building,  and  twenty-six  trained  library 
workers  from  Seattle  and  Tacoma  volunteered  to  assist  Mr. 
Jennings  in  bringing  order  out  of  chaos. 

Liberty  Library,  Camp  Lewis,  opened  its  doors  Novem- 
ber 28.  Within  and  without  the  wood  is  stained  gray, 
field  stones  by  thousands  have  been  piled  and  sloped  back 
against  its  foundation  of  wood  with  unique  effect.  The 
walls  of  pale  yellow  beaver  board,  windows  hung  with 
yellow  cotton  crepe,  Japanese  tubs,  gray,  with  their  heavy 
twists  black  and  orange,  filled  with  sword  ferns,  soldiers' 
own,  at  intervals  atop  the  bookcases,  and  now,  a  large 
fireplace  in  the  reading  room  opposite  the  entrance,  all 
make  the  long  hall  home-y.  Even  the  doorway  invited  you 
in,  for  books  are  arranged  against  the  panes  around  it, 
an  archway  of  beckoning  thoughts  and  fancies  seen  from 
without.  There  is,  too,  a  friendly,  welcoming  atmosphere 
which  most  libraries  lack.  The  comfortable  chairs  and 
the  tables  are  stained  gray.  A  few  good  mottoes  are  to 
be  added  later.  Aye,Good  Books  Are  Good  Friends. 


CAMP  LEWIS  151 

At  first,  fiction  largely  predominated.  Many  beauti- 
fully bound  entire  sets  of  standard  works  were  presented, 
notably  by  Walter  MacKay,  from  his  private  library  in 
Portland,  who  added,  making  the  gift  more  personal,  a 
bookplate  inscribing  them  "To  the  Soldiers  of  the  U.  S.  A." 
Of  his  are  a  fine  Balzac  in  51  volumes,  Thackeray,  Waver ly 
and  others,  all  in  handsome  leather  binding.  Marcus 
Priteca  of  Tacoma  gave  fine  sets,  including  one  of  Smollett ; 
Blanche  Jane  Cole  of  Seattle — it  is  hardly  fair  to  mention 
few  among  so  many.  Paul  Holbrook  of  Raymond,  Wash- 
ington, contributed  many  sets  including  Dickens  and  Kip- 
ling, the  latter  is  a  great  favorite  in  the  army,  since  he 
deals  with  men  in  the  open,  as  they  are — and  James  Whit- 
combe  Riley,  for  he  writes  of  home  things,  especially  dear 
now  that  men  look  back  upon  them;  and  Hope,  for  they 
are  boyish,  liking  romantic  adventure  they,  all,  are  Hope; 
and  Doyle,  for  they  enjoy  detective  stories.  Most  of  the 
books  sent  were  desirable,  but  there  were  a  few  donated, 
of  course,  that  recall  Father's  aphorism,  "If  the  Lord  didn't 
provide  a  man  with  sense,  He  won't  blame  him  for  not 
using  any." 

Books  still  arrive,  gifts.  Strangers  visiting  Camp 
Lewis  generally  drop  into  the  Library  and  in  memory  of 
the  visit  many  a  volume  is  mailed  back  to  it.  When  Maude 
Adams  played  at  Liberty  Theater  she  was  interested,  as 
a  set  of  over  forty  beautiful  and  unusual  books  attest. 
It  is  pleasant  to  feel  that  in  some  way  even  passerby  may 
have  part  in  the  work  of  the  cantonment.  In  June  the 
Library  at  Camp  Lewis  numbered  50,000  volumes.  You 
should  hear  the  exclamations  of  Civil  War  veterans  who 
are  "doing  the  camp."  Not  a  book  was  furnished  them; 
they  would  have  devoured  a  cook  book  like  the  mocking 
goodies  it  suggested. 

Books  are  purchased  as  need  arises  from  the  fund  of 
the  American  Library  Association.  Mr.  Ruby  ordered 
five  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  technical  reference  books  at 
Christmas,  as  many  more  later,  and  a  third  order  has 
been  placed.  There  are  whole  sections  devoted  to  science, 
sociology,  history,  travel,  and  to  purely  technical  works, 


152  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

which  are  in  great  demand.  Officers  spend  much  time 
furthering  their  studies  toward  promotion,  and  enlisted 
men  often  pursue  favorite  subjects,  for  remember  this  is 
a  National  Army  and  we  are  a  nation  of  readers,  especially 
in  this  Northwest,  where  the  contributing  states  to  draft 
for  Camp  Lewis  rank  lowest  in  the  entire  Country  in  il- 
literacy. Some  soldiers  are  already  planning  for  whal 
they  will  do  after  the  war,  or  in  improving  their  trades 
or  farms:  the  Library  has  over  two-hundred  periodicals, 
upon  almost  every  subject.  The  Seattle  Public  Library  has 
furnished,  beside,  five-hundred  volumes  of  twelve  leading 
magazines  for  five  years  back. 

Aeronautics  is  popular,  tests  being  afforded,  at  Base 
Hospital,  those  who  wish  to  enter  Aviation  service.  En- 
gineering of  all  kinds  is  another  favorite  subject,  for  in 
this  war,  as  in  no  other,  knowledge  is  power.  Soldiers 
soon  understand  this  so  that  the  fifteen  copies  of  Moss' 
Manual  of  Military  training  are  always  out.  Prof.  Ruby 
says  the  Library  will  soon  have  a  complete  department  of 
technical  Military  books.  Many  privates  are  not  only 
graduates  from,  but  professors  in  our  best  universities. 
Librarian  Ruby  smiles  as  he  recalls  a  private  who  asked 
for  something  on  electric  motors.  Shown  the  Library's 
best,  he  remarked  casually,  "Oh,  I  made  the  drawings  for 
that,  I  want  a  later  book,"  and  it  was  immediately  found 
and  purchased.  The  institution  is  weak  in  Sociology  and 
Religion,  both  of  which,  oddly,  are  in  demand  and  will  be 
supplied. 

Increasing  numbers  find  the  quiet,  beauty,  and  atmo- 
sphere of  this  Library  a  very  haven.  Men  scattered  at 
the  tables  are  reading  everything  from  hydrostatics  and 
electricity,  to  ancient  architecture  and  history  of  France 
and  Belgium;  from  Shakespeare  to  Empey's  "Over  the 
Top"  of  which  there  are  forty  copies  and  never  one  on 
the  shelf.  Speaking  of  war  books,  one  of  the  most  delight- 
ful of  them  all,  one  that  you  do  not  read,  but  hear,  every 
accent  of  whose  genuine,  boyish,  stirring  words  comes 
straight  to  you,  yourself,  is  "Life  and  Letters  of  Harry 
Butters".  Such  a  wearisome  title,  the  "Life"  of  a  boy; 


CAMP   LEWIS 


153 


154  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

beside,  other  people's  letters  are  generally  as  stupid  as 
others'  dreams  in  the  telling;  and, — by  the  way,  who  was 
Harry  Butters?  You  forget  all  this  with  the  book  in  your 
hand.  His  sister  Mrs.  R.  A.  Bray  of  Piedmont,  California, 
has  ordered  a  thousand  copies  sent  to  the  various  canton- 
ments as  Harry's  part  in  our  war,  for  he  died  in  action  in 
France  before  his  country  entered  it. 

Camp  Lewis  Library,  which  has  twice  the  number  of 
books  of  any  other  cantonment,  is  well  stocked  with  those 
which  everybody  is  supposed  to  have  read  and  nobody  has 
read,  and  some  are  taking  this  opportunity  to  browse 
among  them.  Even  men  who  have  never  cared  for  books 
read  now,  and  those  who  have  loved  them  and  lacked  time, 
have  two  full  days  a  week  and  all  their  evenings  quite  free 
to  use  as  they  please.  Who  else  can  boast  as  much  time 
as  that?  College  boys  make  much  greater  progress  at 
Camp  Lewis  than  at  a  "U",  for  they  choose  their  own 
books  and  read  with  definite  purpose.  There  is  a  large 
and  growing  department  of  French  and  Spanish  books, 
for  both  languages  are  very  popular  in  the  teaching  at 
the  Y-huts,  the  former  for  present  use,  Spanish  for  the 
future  when  the  United  States  will  fall  heir  to  South 
American  trade.  Regular  readers  at  the  Library  in- 
creased so  greatly  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  build  an 
addition.  It  has  a  large  fireplace  and  soft  lights,  which 
suggests  a  large  factor,  and  an  odd  one  at  first  thought, 
in  the  success  of  Camp  Lewis,  brilliant  and  constant  elec- 
tric light,  turned  on  early  through  the  rainy  months,  so 
that  the  somber  twilight  did  not  make  men  homesick. 
Only  women  enjoy  twilight. 

Mr.  Ruby  has  established  twenty-six  branch  libraries, 
at  Depot  Brigade,  the  Remount  Station,  Base  Hospital, 
Y-Huts,  Officers'  Training  School,  the  Jewish  Club, 
etc.  He  hopes  soon  to  have  them  in  all  companies  as 
well  as  regiments.  His  idea  is  a  good  one  in  effecting  the 
exchanges.  A  strong  box  with  two  shelves  filled  with 
selected  books  is  sent  to  barracks.  Upon  a  set  day,  an 
orderly  takes  this  to  the  next  company  and  one  is  brought 
from  another  to  replace  it.  In  this  way,  the  main  library 


CAMP   LEWIS 


155 


force  is  small  and  results  large.  Red  tape  has  been  cut  at 
both  ends.  The  library  has  the  air  of  a  private  one  where 
the  owner  enjoys  himself,  which  largely  accounts  for  its 
success.  All  the  Library  workers  bear  out  this  idea  of 
friendly  helpfulness.  Louis  Castle  was  assistant  in  Seattle 
Public  Library;  Leo  Etzkorn  in  Whitman  College  library 
while  a  student,  Albert  R.  Rowell  after  graduating  from 


PERIODICAL  READING  ROOM,   LIBERTY   LIBRARY 

Berkeley  was  assistant  in  the  University  Law  Library 
there;  Ellen  Garfield  Smith,  graduate  of  University  of  Il- 
linois and  assistant  in  the  John  Crerar  Library,  Chicago, 
is  now  of  the  Walla  Walla  Public  Library  and  donated  by 
it  to  the  Camp  Lewis  for  two  months  to  catalogue.  Mrs. 
Ida  Kidder,  Librarian  of  Oregon  Agricultural  College,  has 
been  loaned  for  two  months  to  Base  Hospital  Library, 
where  she  is  doing  a  beautiful  work  in  reading  to  patients. 
She  is  a  graduate  of  the  Library  School  of  the  University 
of  Illinois.  The  men  are  all,  for  reason,  ineligible  to  war 
service.  When  Dr.  Putnam  was  at  Camp  Lewis  and  neigh- 
boring cities,  he  gave  out  much  of  interest  concerning  the 
wide  scope  of  library  work  in  the  army  and  its  growing 


156  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

importance.  It  was  fortunate  that  a  man  holding  his 
position  was  willing  to  resign  it,  even  for  a  time,  to  enter 
this  work.  The  Library  Association  for  war  service  now 
has  four-hundred-fifty  stations,  in  army  and  navy  camps, 
along  the  Mexican  border,  and  overseas.  Space  aboardship 
has  been  arranged  for,  and  fifteen  thousand  books  a 
month  go  to  France.  Y.  M.  C.  A.  secretaries  are  always 
aboard  transports  and  have  authority  to  open  cases  and 
loan  books  to  troops  at  sea.  Cases  are  repacked  before 
landing  and  forwarded  to  the  war  zone. 

The  American  Library  Association  for  War  Service  is 
sending  out  a  call  for  Baedeker's  guide  books  to  Europe, 
which  are  not  now  to  be  bought  in  this  country. 
They  are  in  great  demand  on  every  transport.  People 
everywhere  will  doubtless  respond  generously,  but  it  is 
not  to  be  denied  that  to  those  who  have  made  but  one  trip 
to  Europe  and  have  no  hope  of  another,  the  gift  of  the 
book  which  accompanied  every  mile  and  day,  and  holds 
more  memories  than  pages,  will  be  a  real  sacrifice. 

All  cantonment  Libraries  are  not  even  yet  built.  The 
association  has  been  using  Red  Cross  buildings,  Y's,  K. 
C's,  Salvation  Army  quarters,  but  its  work  has  co-ordinat- 
ed so  successfully  with  military  efforts,  that  structures 
will  be  everywhere  hurried.  Not  only  is  the  Carnegie  fund 
available,  but  some  people  are  turning  over  their  own 
collections  as  their  families  are  breaking  up.  Books 
not  desirable  are  sold,  and  others,  requested  by  the  soldiers, 
purchased  from  lists  forwarded  by  post  librarians. 

Throughout  this  brief  account  of  a  great  work,  it 
was  unnecessary  to  point  out  compensations,  they  speak 
for  themselves.  No  wonder  that  many  educated  people 
have  said,  "I'd  rather  have  a  boy  of  mine  at  Camp  Lewis 
for  a  year  than  at  any  University,  bar  none.  He  would 
acquire  and  digest  more  real  knowledge,  be  a  bigger  man." 


CAMP     LEWIS  157 


CHAPTER   XL 

LIBERTY    THEATER    AND    MANAGER    BRADEN — NOTABLE     PER- 
FORMANCES— THE  NINETY-FIRST'S  SWAN-SONG. 

When  the  War  Department  announced  that  a  theater 
would  be  built  in  every  camp,  some  raised  their  eyebrows, 
some  their  voices.  Not  that  in  this  Republic  there  re- 
mains a  lance  corporal's  guard  who  consider  a  theater  the 
foyer  of  Hell  and  all  that  sort  of  thing,  "but",  they  mut- 
tered, "song,  dance,  mollycoddling!"  However,  they  were 
neither  enlisted  men  nor  their  Home  People. 

It  sounds  more  armyfied  to  term  the  worst  and  most 
contagious  ailment  that  attacks  soldiers,  one  that  quaran- 
tine only  spreads,  nostalgia,  but  call  it  that  or  just  plain 
homesickness,  even  our  wonderful  medical  corps  confess 
they  have  found  no  cure  for  it.  Like  other  maladies,  it 
increases  toward  evening,  especially  in  damp  weather. 
While  drilling,  men  do  not  seem  to  feel  the  pain  which 
becomes  all  but  unbearable  after  Retreat;  so  for  months 
they  rushed  off  to  town,  spent  more  money  than  they 
could  afford  upon  vaudeville  and  plays,  fare  there  and 
back,  lodgings  and  meals.  Sometimes  they  returned  late 
to  camp,  sometimes  not  at  all,  deserting  not  from  coward- 
ice but  homesickness.  So  when  Liberty  Theater  opened 
February  15,  1918,  it  proved  a  medicine  for  many  ills. 
Its  manager,  E.  A.  Braden,  should  sign  D.  D.  after  his 
name.  No;  Division  Doctor,  though  really  some  Doctors 
of  Divinity  accomplish  less  good. 

Again  fortunate,  Camp  Lewis,  in  having  this  man  in 
charge  of  a  branch  of  service  so  important.  Tall,  strong, 
soldierly,  he  greatly  desired  active  service  at  the  Front, 
which  he  had  five  times  visited  since  war  broke  out;  but 
the  Government  held  that  he  could  best  serve  by  giving 


158 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CAPT.     BRADEN,     MANAGER     OF     LIBERTY     THEATRE 


CAMP     LEWIS  159 

his  many  years'  experience  among  leading  producers  of 
New  York  city  to  the  management  of  a  theater  which 
must  be  up  to  date  for  an  up  to  date  army.  As  Braden 
said,  anything  to  have  a  part  in  the  greatest  tragedy  ever 
staged,  so,  a  continent  away  from  the  Rialto  and  all  it 
means,  from  Tammany  and  other  leading  clubs  in  which 
he  had  long  been  a  familiar  figure,  the  "Colonel"  by  brevet 
on  Broadway  for  so  many  years,  demoted  himself  to 
Captain,  and  betook  himself  to  Camp  Lewis. 

From  without,  Liberty  Theater  is  a  huge  barn  in  ap- 
pearance, but  in  essentials  it  is  the  equal  of  any  on  Broad- 
way. Its  acoustic  properties  are  excellent.  It  can  be 
emptied  in  short  order  from  several  exits  on  three  sides 
when  every  one  of  its  nearly  three-thousand  seats  is  oc- 
cupied, for  a  broad  aisle  extending  its  length  is  crossed 
by  another  as  wide,  and  from  every  seat  the  stage  can  be 
seen.  In  the  center  is  the  Commandant's  box,  sometimes 
called  a  stall,  and  in  this  case  resembling  both.  An  artis- 
tic rest  room  in  brown  and  green  is  one  of  the  few  on  the 
cantonment. 

Stage  dressing  rooms  are  large  and  airy.  A  spur  track 
allows  scenery  to  be  unloaded  level  with  a  platform  im- 
mediately adjoining  the  stage,  where  wide  doors  make  the 
rear  practically  open.  Companies  step  from  their  own 
Pullman  to  their  dressing  rooms  without  touching  foot 
to  the  ground,  and  never  was  Broadway  so  broad  as  the 
sweep  about  this  Playhouse,  nor  gateway  more  unique  than 
Liberty  Arch  under  which  you  drive  up  the  asphalt  road 
to  Liberty  Theater.  Programs  always  have  a  picture  of 
the  arch  upon  the  cover,  and  within,  of  Commandant  and 
staff,  with  their  names,  so  that  the  programs  make  souven- 
irs to  be  taken  to  all  parts  of  the  country  by  the  thousands 
of  visitors  to  Camp  Lewis. 

Do  not  dream  that  because  the  aisles  are  uncarpeted, 
the  seats  pine  benches,  the  cream  walls  unfrescoed,  that 
you  must  make  believe  it  is  a  fine  theater.  Its  stage,  front- 
age seventy-six  feet,  is  equal  to  any  production  and  fully 
equipped  with  fine  scenery,  set  in  the  latest  manner  with 
sand-bag  weights  from  a  great  height — making  the  rear 


160  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

of  the  building  resemble  a  brewery — and  its  dimmer-board 
has  no  equal,  Col.  Braden's  word  for  it,  in  any  metropoli- 
tan theater.  Not  know  what  a  dimmer  is?  Why,  the 
electric  switchboard  beside  the  stage,  regulating  all  ef- 
fects of  light  and  shade. 

Liberty  Theater  is  perfectly  ventilated,  without  drafts, 
from  the  top,  and  evenly  heated.  It  can  also  be  fumigated 
after  a  performance  attended  by  quarantine  Companies  who 
are  marched  there  in  a  body  afternoons  to  see  moving 
pictures,  a  reason-saving  break  in  the  confinement  of  some 
Commands,  which  have  suffered  merger  quarantines  until 
the  whole  Company  were  all  but  ready  for  commitment 
to  Steilacoom. 

Another  superiority  in  equipment  is  a  seven-hundred 
dollar  rotary  converter  which  is  excelled  nowhere,  because 
there  is  no  better.  That  is  why  moving  pictures  there  are 
so  real.  Pictures  are  run  at  all  performances  when  plays, 
concerts,  vaudeville,  or  regimental  shows  are  not  being 
staged.  Col.  Braden  chooses  nothing  but  clean  films  and 
the  best,  preceded  by  fine  travel  pictures,  often  showing 
beautiful  castles,  storied  Guild  Halls,  magnificent  cathed- 
rals which  for  centuries  glorified  Belgium  and  France 
until  German  Kultur  deliberately  destroyed  Art's  heritage. 

There  are  also  two  nights  a  week  of  vaudeville  given 
by  a  widely  known  circuit,  which  presented  some  fine 
things,  including  the  great  Bernhardt,  and  some  things 
which  were  neither  clever  nor  clean. 

Liberty  Theater  was  opened  in  February,  1918,  with 
a  fine  concert  by  Orpheus  Male  Chorus  of  Tacoma  and 
Philharmonic  Orchestra,  Seattle.  A  speech  was  demanded 
of  Brig.  Gen.  Foltz,  Commanding,  who  responded  in  a  few 
words  and  insisted  Manager  Braden  should  do  the  same, 
who,  protesting  that  he  would  not,  did.  In  this  first 
speech  of  his  life,  he  said  what  afterward  proved  true, 
that  there  would  be  such  variety  in  productions  that  every 
man  could  enjoy  what  he  most  likes. 

Liberty  Theater  is  usually  packed.  All  cantonments 
have  identical  Playhouses,  as  to  buildings,  from  plans 
prepared  by  experts,  but  Manager  Braden  has  acquired 


CAMP   LEWIS  161 

many  interior  equipments  extra.  His  long  acquaintance 
with  theatricals  has  secured  unusual  attractions,  so  that 
the  men  of  the  91st  are  most  fortunate.  Mischa  Elman's 
Wizard  playing  even  warmed  himself  into  a  human  when 
the  immense  audience  listened  breathlessly,  then  applauded 
noisily.  Maud  Powell  interspersed  her  delightful  program 
and  many  encores  with  friendly  words  to  the  soldiers  and 
witty  comments,  making  the  occasion  a  personal  affair, 
merrily  reassuring  them  that  "Classical  music  is  not  so 
bad  as  it  sounds". 

Melba  came.  Her  wonderful  voice  must  have  lived 
on  for  this  hour.  Not  only  did  the  brilliant  notes  fall 
like  diamonds  from  the  necklace  of  the  Jewel  Song  as  in 
olden  days,  and  the  winged  sounds  float,  light  and  color- 
ful as  The  Butterflies,  but  into  the  exquisite  voice  had 
crept  the  sweetness  of  The  Time  of  Lilacs,  of  lilacs  in  the 
soft  Spring  rain  when  one  is  young.  So  Melba  sang  to 
three-thousand  of  you  Ninety-First  as  never  she  sang,  or 
could  sing,  in  days  of  yore,  for  her  voice  had  borne  a  soul. 
I  had  heard  her  many  times  in  opera  long  ago,  but  I 
choose  to  remember  Melba  always  from  that  night,  gorge- 
ous in  the  golden  gown  with  which  she  complimented 
beauty-starved  soldiers  singing  for  them  over  and  over 
with  all  her  heart  and  all  her  art. 

At  last,  Taps  nearing,  she  stood  with  a  furled  flag  in 
her  hand  and  said — and  there  rang  no  "stage  business" 
in  the  words: 

"I  want  to  tell  you  how  proud  and  happy  we  are  to 
sing  for  you  tonight,  you  brave  American  soldiers  who  are 
going  over  there.  When  you  get  there,  just  get  your  teeth 
in  and  carry  it  through  to  the  finish.  I  have  been  in  the 
thick  of  it  for  so  long.  We  have  sent  our  troops  away, 
and  many  of  them  have  come  back  with  honor,  while 
many  of  them  will  never  come  back  at  all,  but  the  honor 
of  serving  their  country  to  the  very  uttermost  is  theirs, 
and  we  are  proud  of  them." 

She  unfurled  the  Stars  and  Stripes  and  led  the  three 
cheers  which  will  echo  in  Germany,  then  three  more  for 
our  dauntless  near  neighbors,  the  Canadians.  Then  she 

§  12 


162  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

said  "Now  will  you  give  three  cheers  for  the  Australians, 
my  countrymen" — such  Hurrahs! 

Then  arose  Gen.  Greene  in  his  box  and  said: 

"One  moment,  comrades,  this  glorious  woman  has 
cheered  our  troops  and  those  of  our  neighbor  and  of  her 
own  country.  She  is  devoting  her  time,  her  wonderful 
gifts  and  her  whole  soul  to  the  aid  of  the  allied  cause; 
even  in  her  company  on  this  tour  she  is  carrying  the 
widow  of  an  officer  who  met  his  death  at  the  Dardanelles, 
and  two  wounded  men  who  have  been  incapacitated  at 
the  front.  Now,  will  you  join  in  three  cheers  for  this 
gracious  giver,  this  queen  of  song,  this  peerless  woman, 
Madame  Nellie  Melba,  and  give  them  with  a  will." 

You  never  heard  such  a  noise  nor  did  you  hear  it  then 
because  every  one  of  you  was  making  it,  and  of  course 
you  were  including  in  its  meaning  the  pianist,  Francis  de 
Bourguignon,  a  Belgian  artist  who  fought  as  brilliantly 
as  he  played,  who  still  showed  in  his  walk  effects  of  his 
wound  at  Antwerp,  and,  in  his  tender  music,  the  wound 
of  his  native  land. 

Two  days  after  this  concert  at  Camp  Lewis  came  news 
that  Melba  had  been  made  "Dame  Commander  of  the 
Order  of  the  British  Empire". 

It  is  so  good  to  laugh,  these  war-saddened  days,  that 
I  must  remind  you  how  you  chuckled  on  your  way  to  bar- 
racks that  night.  It  was  the  first  time  that  Commandant, 
Staff,  and  wives  had  come  to  Liberty  Theater  in  state,  so 
to  speak.  So  when  buglers  sounded  "The  General",  the 
rising  was  spasmodic.  It  was  evidently  a  false  alarm, 
too.  The  heralds  didn't  know  how  to  order  Be  Seated  in 
bugle,  so  after  an  awkward  pause,  they  sounded  "Boots 
and  Saddles".  Seems  as  if  Recall  or  Retreat  or  even 
Fatigue  call  would  have  been  more  appropriate. 

The  great  audience  rose,  too,  when  Melba  came  upon 
the  stage.  Every  performance  at  Liberty  Theater  is  pre- 
ceded by  "The  Star  Spangled  Banner"  when  ushers  in 
the  aisles,  people  in  the  foyer,  everyone  stands  at  attention. 
Strange  that  it  took  war  to  educate  Americans  to  a  re- 


CAMP  LEWIS  163 

spect  invariably  shown  by  other  countries  to  their  na- 
tional airs. 

Speaking  of  stage  remarks,  the  soldiers  have  heard 
from  several  actors  who,  ordinarily,  refuse  to  step  out 
of  character.  Cyril  Maude  played  Grumpy  at  Liberty 
Theater  for  the  first  time  in  the  Northwest,  and  spoke  to 
the  boys,  having  one  of  his  own,  and  his  uncle,  General 
Maude,  in  British  Service;  but  Maude  Adams — odd  coin- 
cidence in  names,  Maude  Adams,  though  she  very  gener- 
ously gave  her  beautiful  play,  to  which  a  uniform  was  a 
ticket,  on  a  Sunday  afternoon  because  she  had  no  other, 
breaking  for  the  first  time  a  stage-life  rule  of  hers  never 
to  act  on  Sunday,  absolutely  refused  to  respond  to  the 
soldiers'  appeals.  Otis  Skinner  was  another  who  played 
at  Camp  Lewis  Sunday,  his  first  experience  since  stardom. 

Speaking  of  tickets,  Smileage  books  are  received  at 
Liberty  Theater.  What  a  thoroughly  American  idea  and 
name!  Washington's  quota  was  30,000  books,  but  75,- 
000  were  sold.  These  books  of  one  or  five  dollars  in  cou- 
pons afforded  some  men  their  first  opportunity  and  money 
to  hear  the  best  the  stage  affords.  To  them  it  was  a  part, 
and  a  large  part,  of  their  education  at  Camp  Lewis. 

Manager  Braden  chose  experienced  ticket  sellers,  ush- 
ers, scene-shifters,  and  as  he  is  a  strict  disciplinarian,  and 
they  in  military  training,  no  theater  is  better  served,  and 
there  are  no  strikes.  The  orchestra  of  thirty  pieces  is 
first  class,  several  of  the  men  having  been  soloists  in  not- 
able organizations.  For  over  a  year  one  of  them  led 
Billy  Sunday's  choir  with  his  silver-voiced  trombone. 

A  curious  condition,  such  a  huge,  crowded  theater, 
such  a  manager,  such  a  force,  and  not  a  man  making  a 
dollar!  All  profits  go  to  the  Division,  Over  There — except 
profits  accruing  in  pleasure  and  morale — at  Camp  Lewis. 

The  enlisted  men  connected  with  the  theater,  however, 
are  a  bit  unfortunate,  it  would  seem,  for  though  they 
escape  K.  P.  and  much  of  drill,  there  is  slight  chance  for 
distinguished  service  or  advance  in  rank  or  pay.  Also, 
they  have  no  holidays  wholly  free,  no  extra  pay,  not  even 
extra  "chow",  after  performance,  just  rush  to  be  in  by 


164  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Taps.  The  insignia  of  the  army  musician  is  a  silver  harp 
which,  under  these  circumstances,  resembles  that  "which 
once  from  Tara's  halls,  hath  all  its  music  fled." 

Everybody  else  in  the  cantonment  having  had  some 
one  to  do  for  them,  the  player-folk  at  last  will  have,  for 
the  Stage  Women's  War  Workers  have  requested  every 
soldier  who  was  in  any  way  connected  with  the  stage,  if 
by  nothing  more  than  ushering,  "before  the  war",  to  send 
his  name  to  the  Division  Adjutant.  Ex-actors  and  all  will 
hereafter  benefit  by  the  generosity  of  their  sisters  in  art. 

Again  Camp  Lewis  scores,  through  Captain  Braden, 
in  its  theater  which,  at  the  end  of  the  first  season,  your 
occupancy  of  Camp  Lewis,Ninety-First,  finds  itself  the 
only  Liberty  Theater  in  all  the  cantonments  that  has  made 
any  money,  or  even  paid  expenses,  which  Manager 
Braden's  has  always  done,  while  several  have  been  for 
some  time  closed.  This,  on  the  contrary,  has  constantly 
improved  its  attractions  and  booked  others.  Your  beauti- 
ful campsite  has  won  fame  through  stageland,  and  play- 
ing there  is  an  outing  filled  with  sightseeing.  You  soldiers 
perform  during  the  day  and  they  reciprocate  with  their 
patriotic  best  for  you  at  night.  The  knitting  which  the 
heroines  introduce  into  every  possible  scene  is  for  you. 
Usually  they  take  dinner  at  Hostess  House  over  which 
they  exclaim,  and  they  leave  with  pleasant  memories  of 
it  all,  to  be  envied  by  other  companies. 

Several  improvements  have  been  made  in  the  buliding, 
for  which  the  Swan-song  of  the  91st  Division  will  pay. 
June  16  and  17  your  best  talent  appeared  in  minstrels  and 
vaudeville.  The  former  was  as  funny  as  any  ever  seen 
in  old  days  when  minstrels  ruled,  yet  the  only  familiar 
word  was  "Be  seated,  gentlemen."  The  quartet  really  had 
four  singing  voices.  Its  lank  bass  stood  as  high  as  his 
full  notes  reached  low,  and  he  was  spontaneously  funny. 
Sutter  yodled,  Smith  and  Busby  sang  the  latest  songs, 
Lloyd  sang  personations  while  you  audience,  like  a  com- 
posite Oliver  Twist,  called  for  more,  with  Quaw  at  the 
piano  playing  into  his  hands,  finally  singing  a  new  song 
of  his  own.  Ray  Hicks  of  the  364th  gave  his  original 


CAMP  LEWIS  165 

monologues.  Camp  Lewis  owes  this  ex-professional  much 
for  he  has  been  most  generous,  writing  playlets  and  pro- 
ducing them.  All  should  be  mentioned,  for  all  were 
clever.  The  orchestra,  dressed  in  white,  were  grouped 
about  the  grand  piano  on  the  stage  and  led  by  Max  Fisher 
who  played  several  fine  violin  solos,  one  being  that  ap- 
pealing "Joan  of  Arc  They  Are  Calling  You."  Fisher 
paid  a  graceful  compliment  to  Ray  Healey  when  he  turned 
to  the  "black-face"  and  played  the  song  upon  strings  which 
Healey  had  so  exquisitely  played  upon  his  fingers.  Healey's 
whistling  was  wonderful.  Placing  his  interlocked  fingers 
to  his  lips,  as  boys  produce  hideous  catcalls,  he  whistled 
Joan  of  Arc  with  such  beauty  that  its  modulations  seemed 
to  form  the  words  which  the  hearers  supplied  in  their 
hearts,  and  some,  in  tears.  The  tones  were  as  sweet  as  the 
violin's.  Healey  whistled  a  number  of  songs  covering  a 
surprising  register,  with  lightness  and  elusive  sweetness 
of  tone,  or  with  roundness  and  volume,  shading  with  the 
feeling  of  the  human  voice,  yet  with  the  technique  of  a 
flageolet.  It  was  both  Pan  and  his  pipes. 

But  through  all  the  nonsense,  the  song,  the  dance,  crept 
in  a  breathless  word,  a  faint  note,  a  half  movement  which 
all  steadfastly  ignored:  Goodbye,  Remember;  a  phantom 
Handclasp,  for  already  there  were  vacant  seats,  and  all 
its  Ninety-First  audience  would  be  gone  hence  within  the 
fortnight.  Twas  the  Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel. 


166  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER    XII. 

BRIG.  GEN.  FOLTZ,  COMMANDING — FIRST  NEW  YEAR  PROCLA- 
MATION— LINCOLN'S  AND  WASHINGTON'S  BIRTHDAYS- 
GAMBLING — FIRST  GENERAL  INSPECTION' — INSURANCE 

DRIVE — RESUMES  COMMAND  182ND  BRIGADE — WHAT  AN 
INFANTRY  BRIGADE  IS — COL.  CAVANAUGH  OF  THE  363RD 
— LT.  COL.  WARFIELD,  MAJ.  BRECKINRIDGE — "OVER  THE 
TOP" — LIEUT.  LAWTON'S  SUN  DIAL — CHAPLAIN  GALVIN 
AND  SOCCER — COL.  WEEKS — CURIOUS  STATUS  OF  CO.  H. 
364TH  —  A  COSMOPOLITAN  COMPANY  -  -  REGIMENTAL 
HONORS,  BAYONETING — CHAPLAIN  WILSON. 

Brigadier  General  Frederick  S.  Foltz,  of  a  family  long 
established  in  Pennsylvania,  was  graduated  from  West 
Point  in  the  same  class  with  Major-General  Greene  and 
Brigadier-General  Irons.  Curiously,  all  three  have  been 
acting  as  Commandants  of  Camp  Lewis.  When  Gen. 
Greene  went  to  France  in  November  1917,  Irons  was  in 
command  for  a  short  time,  succeeded  by  Foltz  until  Gen. 
Greene's  return  in  March.  Lieutenants  Greene  and  Foltz 
were  stationed  together  at  the  Northernmost  fort,  Assini- 
boine,  for  about  three  years  three  decades  ago,  the  former 
Infantry,  the  latter  Cavalry.  Both  engaged  in  the  Sioux 
outbreak.  Promotion  was  slow  in  those  days,  it  was 
Second-Lieutenant  Foltz  for  nineteen  years,  all  in  the 
First  Cavalry,  to  which,  long  after,  he  returned  as  Colonel. 
His  father  was  Surgeon-General  J.  M.  Foltz,  Fleet  Sur- 
geon with  Admiral  Farragut  in  the  Civil  War,  and  Mrs. 
Foltz  is  also  of  army  folk,  daughter  of  Major  J.  B.  Reefer. 

Foltz  served  upon  Gen.  Miles'  staff  in  Cuba,  saw  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  raised  in  both  interventions,  went  with 
Miles  to  Porto  Rico,  and  served  two  and  a  half  years  in 
the  Philippines.  Aside  from  foreign  service,  he  has  been 


CAMP   LEWIS 


167 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL   F.   S.   FOLTZ 


stationed  in  the  West,  understands  its  men,  is  just  where 
he  belongs  in  the  only  Western  National  Army  Canton- 
ment. American  Cavalry  have  always  been  noted  riders. 
A  team  picked  from  the  old  regular  army  meant  some- 


168  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

thing.  Gen  Foltz  has  twice  commanded  such  teams  repre- 
senting the  United  States  against  the  best  horsemen  of 
the  Old  World,  once  in  London,  and  in  the  1912  Olympic 
Games  at  Stockholm.  It  would  seem  such  riders  needed  no 
further  training  yet  they  were  ordered  to  France  to  acquire 
other  style  of  riding. 

Gen.  Foltz  was  at  Fort  Russell  when  ordered  to  Camp 
Lewis,  August,  1917,  to  command  a  Brigade  not  yet  blown 
in  by  the  draft.  He  had  been  encamped  at  Murray  eleven 
years  ago,  so  this  is  old  stamping  grounds.  As  Cavalry 
has  taken  small  part  in  this  war,  he  commands  an  Infantry 
Brigade,  the  182nd. 

Speaking  of  Cavalry,  the  last  war  glamour  passed  with 
"the  horse  that  scenteth  the  battle  from  afar,"  However, 
there  is  talk  of  saddling  him  again.  Surely  the  Hun  will 
flee  so  fast  that  he  will  be  required.  So  perhaps  some  of 
these  Montana  cowboys  who  ploughed  the  mud  at  his  re- 
view will  follow  Brig.  Gen.  Foltz  a-horseback. 

GENERAL  BYNG  USES  HIS  CAVALRY 

I've  fought  the  Hun  dismounted,  yes,  more  often  than  I've  counted; 

I've  trotted  with  the  Tommies  in  the  line; 
But  what  of  "Boots  and  Saddles,"  and  the  nag  a  trooper  straddles — 

Must  I  always  foot  it  eastward  to  the  Rhine? 
I've  strafed  Fritz  with  a  mortar,  as  a  proper  gunner  oughter; 

Oh,  I've  knocked  his  blooming  trench  about  his  ears; 
But,  say,  I  want  a  battle  where  the  sabers  flash  and  rattle, 

And  I  want  to  hear  the  calls  a  trooper  hears. 
I've  tooled  a  tank  in  action,  and  it  has  its  own  attraction, 

When  its  crawling  on  and  blighting  far  and  wide; 
But  oh,  I  miss  the  swaying  of  a  wild  war  stallion,  neighing, 

As  he  takes  the  open  country  in  his  stride! 


What's  that  the  bugle's  saying?    "Boots  and  Saddles!"  Oh,  I'm  praying 

That  they  really  mean  to  turn  us  loose  again; 
It  may  be  but  rehearsing,  and  I'm  praying  and  I'm  cursing — 

No!  it's  "Hurry,  hurry,  hurry,  hurry,  men!" 
Old  horse,  you  piebald  beauty,  this  is  mighty  welcome  duty! 

Do  you  hear  this  bit  of  steel  stuff  whirr  and  sing? 
They  say  the  Hun's  retreating,  but  he  needs  another  beating, 

And  we're  to  do  our  very  best  for  Biff  Bang  Byng! 
— O.  C.  A.  Child. 


CAMP  LEWIS  169 

Gen.  Foltz  had  just  taken  over  command  of  the  can- 
tonment when  its  First  New  Year,  1918,  dawned.  In  this 
message  he  wished — 

"A  Happy  New  Year  to  the  Division — May  wo,  while 
the  year  is  young,  take  our  place  with  our  comrades  on 
the  front  and  before  the  year  is  out,  may  our  zeal  and 
worth  have  won  a  name  for  the  91st  Division  of  the  Na- 
tional Army."  FRED'K  S.  FOLTZ, 

Brigadier  General,  Commanding. 

Zeal,  worth,  strong  words,  both.  Zeal  belongs  to  the 
last  words  in  the  language  and  to  the  first  in  success: 
eagerness,  passionate  ardor  are  its  synonyms,  and  worth 
behind  zeal  to  stand  fast,  to  follow  faster. 

Since  so  many  Montanans  belong  to  the  182nd  Infantry 
Brigade,  they  will  like  to  keep  this  message,  too: 

To  the  Montana  men  at  Camp  Lewis  I  give  greetings 
at  the  dawn  of  a  New  Year,  Be  of  g\ood  cheer,  your  country 
has  supreme  faith  in  you,  and  we  of  Montana,  who  best 
know  and  love  you,  rest  confident  in  the  belief  that  you 
will  measure  up  to  the  responsibility  that  is  yours.  Wher- 
ever your  task  may  take  you,  be  sure  that  you  are  fol- 
lowed by  the  love  and  admiration  of  the  people  "back 
home,"  who  have  solemnly  dedicated  themselves  to  make 
any  sacrifice  necessary  to  maintain  you  in  the  field. 

When  you  go  "over  the  top"  may  you  be  inspired  by  the 
thought  of  the  loved  ones  back  in  the  proud  old  state  that 
sits  the  saddle  of  the  Rockies,  and  I  am  sure  the  thought 
will  put  more  power  into  your  fighting  arm  and  make  you 
more  determined  to  execute  a  thoroughly  workmanlike 
job. 

May  the  God  of  Battles,  who  is  none  the  less  the  God 
of  Peace,  watch  over  you  and  keep  you  and  give  back  to 
us  as  members  of  the  glorious  host  which  carried  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  to  victory. 

To  all  the  men  of  Camp  Lewis,  without  regard  to  state 
lines,  I  give  a  message  of  assurance.  The  hearts  of  our 
people  are  with  you  all,  and  we  know  that  the  indomitable 
will  and  the  fervent  patriotism  of  the  men  of  the  North- 


170  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

west  will  give  a  splendid  account  of  themselves  when  the 
moment  of  supreme  test  arrives. 

(Signed),  S.  V.  STEWART, 

Governor  of  Montana. 

********** 

The  next  remembrance  of  the  cantonment  under  Gen. 
Foltz  did  not  especially  interest  these  Montanans;  but 
February  1,  1918  was  notable  for  Mexicans,  Southern 
Indians,  some  Californians,  Hlawaiians  and  Filipinos  at 
Camp  Lewis,  for  the  first  snow  of  the  Winter  was  the 
first  snow  of  their  lives.  They  rushed  out,  breaking  the 
stillness  of  the  falling  flakes,  washed  one  another's  faces 
quite  as  if  they  were  down  East  boys,  built  a  Kaiser,  and 
rejoicing  exceeding  much,  demolished  him  with  snow 
grenades, — a  Kaiser?  Why  the  whole  Hohenzollern  family 
and  connections  were  brought  low  that  day,  and  lay,  white 
and  cold,  mangled,  but  not  bleeding,  for  they  are  all  as 
cold-blooded  as  fish,  which  do  not  bleed.  Democracy  tri- 
umphed over  autocracy,  and  even  aristocracy  was  not. 
Officers,  quick  to  catch  the  spirit  of  our  army,  gave  the 
day  for  a  Winter  picnic,  since  snow  hereabouts  lasts  no 
longer  than  joy.  One  wildly  excited  Filipino  packed  the 
snow  all  over  him,  held  both  hands  full,  and  had  his  picture 
taken  to  send  across  the  Pacific  to  prove  the  marvel  of 
which  he  would  write,  and  others  followed  his  lead.  Watch- 
ing the  fun  and  the  wonder,  we  of  this  rainy  Puget  Sound 
slipped  back  over  the  years  and  the  miles  to  childhood, 
and  New  England,  tingling  with  the  old  excitement  of  the 
first  still,  uncertain  flakes.  That's  one  dear  beauty  of 
Firsts,  you  go  back;  don't  you  love  to? 

While  Gen.  Foltz  was  Commandant,  there  were  several 
Firsts  in  anniversaries;  Lincoln's  birth,  February  12,  was 
especially  fitting  in  remembrance  of  this  greatest  of  men, 
born  for  such  a  time  as  this.  The  Revolutionary  War  had 
just  ended  with  amazing  victory  to  a  handful  of  impover- 
ished, untrained,  unequipped  colonists  over  the  greatest 
of  countries;  and  Lincoln  was  three  years  old  when 
England  tried  it  again,  with  the  same  result,  so  that  he 
was  born  with  the  feel  of  war,  so  to  speak.  He  volunteered 


CAMP  LEWIS  171 

for  the  Black  Hawk,  and  he  bore  the  crushing  burden  of 
the  Civil  War  as  no  other  ruler  in  all  time  has  done.  His 
whole  life  was  a  heart-breaking  struggle.  Like  the  Naza- 
rene  he  followed,  Lincoln  was  "  a  man  of  sorrows,  and 
acquainted  with  grief,"  and  upon  the  altar  wood  of  his 
patiently  builded  life  was  laid  his  cruel  death  for  the  last 
sacrifice.  Now  remain  a  few  of  that  war  to  season  this 
with  the  salt  of  the  earth,  and  Lincoln's  great  spirit  must 
have  brooded  over  the  cantonments  where  men  listened, 
this  war-year,  with  their  hearts.  They  felt  him  near  and 
intimate,  this  Great  Commoner,  who  once  remarked  that 
the  Lord  must  love  common  people,  He  made  so  many  of 
them.  Lincoln  Himself  marveled  when  elected  President 
and  said:  "/  cannot  but  know  what  you  all  know,  that 
without  a  name,  perhaps  without  a  reason  why  I  should 
have  a  name,  there  has  fallen  upon  me  a  task  such  as 
did  not  rest  even  upon  the  father  of  his  country;  and  so 
feeling,  I  cannot  but  turn  and  look  for  that  support  with- 
out which  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  perform  that 
great  task.  I  turn,  then,  and  look  to  the  great  American 
people  and  to  that  God  who  has  never  forsaken  them." 
His  words  sound  clear  today, — American  people,  never 
forsaken. 

Not  one  of  the  thousands  who  have  entered  Camp 
Lewis  came  into  less  auspicious  birth;  neither  is  there 
among  the  indexed  cards  of  the  Depot  Brigade,  one  more 
modest  than  his,  the  entire  biography  Lincoln  furnished 
the  Congressional  Record  wherein,  generally,  leaf  after  leaf 
rustled  upon  a  fruitless  family  tree: 

Bvrn,  February  12,  1809,  in  Hardin  County,  Ky. 

Education,  defective. 

Profession,  a  lawyer. 

Have  been  a  captain  <of  volunteers  in  Black  Hawk  War. 

Postmaster  in  a  very  small  office. 

Four  times  a  member  of  the  Illinois  legislature,  and 

A  member  of  the  Lower  House  of  Congress." 

Is  that  not  inspiring  to  you,  volunteer  captains  of  the 
Ninety-First?  At  thirty-eight,  it  was  Lincoln's  highest 
rank,  "Education,  defective."  Think  of  the  speech  at 


172  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Gettysburg,  scribbled  upon  stray  scraps  of  paper  as  the 
train  rumbled  on,  of  Lincoln,  soon  to  join  "these  honored 
dead"  "who  gave  the  last  full  measure  of  devotion" — that, 
however,  is  unthinkable,  for  Lincoln  lives.  In  five  intense 
minutes;  was  delivered  the  noblest  speech  of  dedication  in 
any  language,  the  Creed  of  America,  ending  in  the  death- 
less words 

Government  of  the  people,  by  the  people,  for  the  people, 

shall  not  perish  from  the  earth. 

*********  * 

Following  a  number  of  convictions  in  serious  cases  of 
stealing,  embezzlement  of  Company  funds,  and  even  the 
attempted  murder  of  an  automobile  driver  by  that  strange 
degenerate,  Pidd,  all  consequent  upon  losses  by  gambling, 
Commanding  Officer  Foltz  issued  a  sweeping  order  against 
all  forms  of  gambling,  February  13,  valid  either  within 
the  cantonment  or  wherever  soldiers  gathered.  Even  the 
United  States  mails  had  been  rifled,  and  investigation  of 
many  complaints  traced  the  thefts  to  men  who  had  lost 
at  cards.  With  this  order  from  Gen.  Foltz  was  also  one 
pertaining  to  a  more  careful  distribution  of  mail,  which 
greatly  improved  the  service.  Perhaps  the  twin  order  even 
stopped  the  betting  on  whether  a  package,  or  even  a 
letter,  would  ever  arrive.  One  officer  insists  that  a  pair 
of  his  shoes  walked  out  in  two  weeks  and  a  day,  rather 
take  chances  in  the  mail  to  be  too  late  to  go  out  with  the 
Division  in  June.  All  this  had  been  rather  the  fault  of 
company  post-offices  than  of  the  camp  postoffice,  which 
really  did  well  with  a  small  force  in  ridiculously  limited 
quarters,  and  an  immense  mail  congested  there,  unless 
handled  in  extraordinarily  short  time.  So  that,  really, 

there  was  need  for  unusual  efficiency,  and  it  was  shown. 
********** 

During  the  incumbency  of  Foltz,  the  First  General 
Inspection  of  the  91st  Division  was  held  in  February,  1918 
when  Brig.  Gen.  Helmick  arrived  from  Washington  D.  C., 
an  inspection  highly  creditable,  but  very  dismal,  you  re- 
member. Never  did  young  officers  more  fervently  wish 
they  were  higher-ups,  in  both  senses,  than  they  who,  pelted 


CAMP  LEWIS  173 

by  rain,  afoot  in  the  mire,  followed  the  mounted  officers. 
When  ranks  broke,  the  men  dipped  their  sodden  shoes 
into  puddles  to  wash  off  the  mud — "Better  than  digging 
off  a  firm  foundation  of  adobe  clay  at  Camp  Fremont", 
cheered  an  optimist. 

In  the  week  spent  at  Camp  Lewis  by  Gen.  Helmick,  ac- 
companied by  his  old  friend  the  Commanding  Officer,  he 
attended  a  sham  battle  across  No  Man's  Land  carried  on 
by  the  School  of  Intelligence  wherein  the  mortar  trench 
barrage  was  directed  by  British  officer  Capt.  Mawdsley. 
and  the  advance  by  the  French  Capt.  Champion.  This 
was  the  first  large  problem  worked  out  in  the  department, 
before  most  of  the  camp  officers. 

£•,    -jfc- .          j  .$•'£.'.•..$•.-.£.•'    f  "  '^   '  4>          ••'  9 

Another  feature  during  Brig.  Gen.  Foltz'  command  of 
Camp  Lewis  was  the  Government  Insurance  Drive  which 
placed  the  cantonment  First  in  Percentage  of  Men  In 
sured,  99.65  of  32,510  present  early  in  February,  as  a 
telegram  received  by  him  stated.  It  stood  second  in  the 
amount  subscribed,  too,  though  more  effort  had  been  made 
to  have  all  benefit,  than  to  urge  subscribing  to  more  than 
they  could  well  afford.  The  banner  unit  was  the  316th 
Field  Signal  Battalion,  with  every  one  of  its  145  members 
insured  for  the  maximum  allowed,  $10,000.  In  119  comp- 
anies, one  hundred  percent  were  insured.  Officers  took 
pains  to  explain  its  benefits  and  provisions  to  the  unin- 
formed, those  who  carried  outside  insurance  understood 
they  were  obtaining  war  insurance  at  peace  cost,  a  $10,- 
000  policy  which  cost  the  government  about  $1000  for 
$75  a  year.  Benevolent  societies  refuse  insurance  to  sol- 
diers, and  ordinary  companies  charge  prohibitive  rates  to 
fighters.  Then,  too,  United  States  insurance  will  not  be 
subject  to  creditors'  claims  either  against  soldiers  or  their 
beneficiaries,  and  they  may  assign  it  to  wife,  child  or 
grand-child,  parent,  brother  or  sister,  while  ordinary  in- 
surance would  recognize  only  wife,  child,  or  widowed 
mother.  Beside  all  this,  the  Government  promised  to  keep 
up  insurance  or  fraternal  benefit  membership  which  sol- 
diers held  before  entering  the  army,  for  as  long  as  they 


174  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

serve  in  it.  This  is  the  First  Country  to  provide  for  and 
to  protect  its  citizens  in  this  way.  Truly  it  is  a  Mother- 
land to  its  sons. 

During  this  Drive,  Brig.  Gen.  Foltz  received  a  com- 
munication from  the  City  of  Denver,  informing  him  that 
an  ordinance  had  passed  there,  providing  for  the  pay- 
ment of  premiums  upon  a  $1000  insurance  policy  to  be 
issued  to  every  man,  officer  or  enlisted,  at  Camp  Lewis 
from  Denver,  and  asking  them  to  forward  names  of  bene- 
ficiaries desired.  Surely  in  many  gifts  to  soldiers  from 
different  localities,  Denver's  is  First  of  its  kind  and  one 
of  the  most  sensible  and  generous.  The  Insurance  Drive 
was  finished  by  Lincoln's  birthday,  a  fitting  birthday  cele- 
bration for  the  loving  War  President  who  had  brooded 
like  a  father  over  the  boys  in  his  army,  two  generations 

ago. 

********** 

February  means  purification.  Two  rulers  pre-eminent 
in  World-Story  for  purity  of  motives  were  born  of  it. 
Commemorating  the  birthday  of  the  First  President  of 
the  United  States  by  the  First  Division  at  Camp  Lewis, 
Governor  Lister  of  Washington  wrote:  "7  am  glad  to  have 
the  opportunity  to  send  a  word  of  greeting  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Ninety-First  Division  of  the  National  Army. 
It  is  not  a  year  since  our  nation  declared  a  state  of  wa^ 
with  Germany.  During  these  months  the  greatest  mili- 
tary development  ever  known  in  the  same  time  has  been 
brought  about  by  the  United  States — During  this  month 
of  February,  when  we  commemorate  the  birthdays  of  Two 
great  Americans — let  us  re-consecrate  ourselves  to  the 
service  of  our  country." 

Both  Gen.  Foltz  and  Gov.  Lister  addressed  you  of  the 
Ninety-First  in  Knights  of  Columbus  Hall  at  camp,  you 
remember,  and  again  both  spoke  at  the  Elks'  smoker  in 
Tacoma.  Brig.  Gen.  Foltz  is  a  ready  speaker.  One 
thing  he  said  of  Washington  made  the  great  patriot  states- 
man seem  nearer  and  more  real:  "If  Washington  were 
here  today  he  would  be  a  man  among  men;  he  would  not 
hold  himself  aloof  for  he  could  accommodate  himself  to 
any  condition." 


CAMP  LEWIS  175 

The  camp  enjoyed  a  holiday.  Hundreds  ef  Elks  in 
olive  drab  joined  their  old  associates  in  Prince  Alberts 
and  "plugs",  for  a  procession,  a  dinner,  and  a  smoker 
later,  when  Gen.  Foltz  responded  for  "The  Army"  and 
Berg.  Perry,  soloist  at  the  Panama  Exposition,  and  Pvt. 
Bondonno  sang,  so  that  the  camp  was  represented  from 
head  to  foot,  with  a  non-com  to  boot.  There  was  a  dance 
for  enlisted  men,  good  music  and  plenty  of  partners,  so 
you  voted  the  day  a  success,  didn't  you,  Ninety-First? 
Parties  even  yet  seem  natural  to  Washington,  "first  in  the 
hearts  of  his  countrymen,"  not  in  mine:  but  Lincoln,  dear 
Lincoln.  In  his  lifetime,  the  world  gave  Washington  all 
it  had,  family,  position,  love,  wealth,  power,  acclaim,  fame. 
Of  these  all,  Lincoln  received  nothing.  Even  the  Presi- 
dency, an  honor,  though  so  crushing  a  burden,  was  em- 
bittered by  slights  and  positive  insults,  added  to  a  general 
ignorance  of  his  greatness,  and  just  when  tardy  Life, 
stingy  of  all  save  duties,  seemed  about  to  bring  rewards, 
his  murderer  struck. 

Everybody,  as  usual,  quite  forgot  who  else  was  there 
that  memorable  birthday  so  long  ago,  there  before  Wash- 
ington arrived,  his  mother,  there  in  agony  and  danger. 
Did  she  give  nothing  but  life  to  Washington?  A  mare 
would  do  as  much  for  her  colt,  and  even  she  would  give 
of  her  speed  to  the  thoroughbred,  that  he  would  go  farther 
than  others.  A  woman  gives  soul,  sense,  self.  If  the 
world  is  not  yet  ready  to  write  Her-story  with  History, 
it  will,  some  time,  indite  Their  Story.  So  here's  to  Wash- 
ington's mother  on  his  birthday.  Had  she  been  another, 
would  he  have  bidden  his  army  that  Farewell,  bidden  also 
to  power,  to  proffered  kingship,  and  have  said  to  them 
and  to  us — U.  S.  spells  the  greatest  US  in  speech — "It 
will  be  worthy  of  a  free,  enlightened,  and  at  no  distant 
period,  a  great  nation,  to  give  to  mankind  the  magnani- 
mous and  novel  example  of  a  people  always  guided  by  an 

exalted  justice  and  benevolence." 

**         *         *         *         *         *         *         *         * 

Brig.  Gen.  Foltz  resumed  his  command  of  the  182nd 
Brigade  in  March  upon  return  of  Gen.  Greene.  Major 


176  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Gordon  Voorhies  is  its  Adjutant.  Having  served  in  the 
Spanish-American,  he  immediately  re-entered  service  for 
this  war.  Lieut.  W.  F.  Daugherty  was  one  of  the  two 
Aide-de-camps  allowed  a  Brigadier-General,  and  whom  he 
himself  appoints.  He  is  Captain  Daugherty  now,  in 
France.  The  other  is  Lewis  Douglas  of  Douglas,  Arizona. 
The  second  Aid  is  now  Lieut.  Alfred  Kidder — 'twould  be 
selfish  to  enjoy  such  a  joke  alone.  Mr.  Kidder  had  traveled 
widely,  dug  mummies  in  Egypt,  done  research  work  in 
Mexico,  and  just  finished  a  book  upon  that  subject.  But 
a  nation's  war  cry  carries  far,  he  decided  that  Primitive 
Man,  re-incarnated  in  the  Hun,  required  study,  and  at  once 
entered  the  Presidio,  where  he  was  subjected  to  a  rigid 
and  unusual  mental  examination.  It  developed  that  this 
was  given  in  consequence  of  the  report  of  his  sergeant 
that  "Kidder  makes  the  wildest  statements  in  reply  to 
simple  questions.  Asked  his  former  business,  he  had 
replied  anthropologist,  and  had  even  said  that  he  had 
engaged  in  research  work  pertaining  to  Primitive  Man." 
The  bewildered  sergeant  evidently  agreed  with  Paul's 

observer,  "Much  learning  hath  made  him  mad." 

********** 

A  Brigade  is  the  largest  organization  within  a  Division, 
and  is  composed  of  two,  or  more,  regiments.  The  182nd 
has  two,  the  363rd  and  364th  Infantry,  and  the  348th 
Machine  Guns,  8210  men.  Its  Commanding  Officer  wears 
one  star,  and  a  gold  hat  cord;  all  officers  below  Generals 
wear  black-and-gold.  Military  terms  tell  interesting  stor- 
ies, in  the  case  of  Infantry  it  is  fiction,  now,  for  while  in 
feudal  time  they  were  those  who  followed  mounted  knights 
on  foot  from  fief  to  war,  infants  in  the  sense  of  youngers, 
underlings,  Infantry  is  today  the  body,  foot  and  arm  of 
our  army.  While'  aircraft  from  the  sky,  and  artillery 
from  the  distance  open  an  attack,  its  troops  go  over  the 
top  to  do  the  hand-to-hand  fighting.  Infantry  wear  crossed 

rifles  and  blue  hat  cords. 

********** 

Brigades  are  divided  into  regiments,  each  commanded 
by  a  Colonel,  which  explains  why  the  word  is  so  spelled, 


CAMP  LEWIS 


177 


he  is  head  of  the  column,  for  a  regiment  is  a  column  under 
one  rule,  or  regimen.  And  as  the  eagle  flies  toward  the 
stars,  and  a  Colonel  ranks  just  below  a  Brigadier-general, 
he  wears  a  silver  eagle  upon  his  shoulder  strap. 


§  13 


COLONEL    HARRY    LAT.    CAVANAUGH 


178  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Colonel  Harry  LaT.  Cavanaugh,  in  command  of  the 
363rd  Infantry,  like  most  of  the  officers  at  Camp  Lewis, 
is  of  a  family  long  established  in  this  country.  His 
mother's  people,  La  Tourrette's,  were  Huguenots  driven 
by  persecution  from  France  to  America  where  they  owned 
most  of  Staten  Island.  His  father  was  Captain  of  the 
1st  Delawares  in  the  Civil  War,  was  wounded  at  Santiago 
and  was  retired  as  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  his  wife  is  daughter 
of  Col.  Taylor,  Paymaster  in  the  Civil  War.  The  Cuban 
campaign  was  quite  a  family  affair,  as  Col.  Cavanaugh, 
his  father,  uncle,  and  brother  all  fought  at  the  same  time 
and  place.  His  brother,  a  bit  younger,  is  a  rank  and  a 
Division  lower,  being  Lieutenant-colonel  in  the  90th  Divis- 
ion— Does  the  silver  leaf  upon  a  Lieutenant-Colonel's 
shoulder  bespeak  the  tree  upon  which  the  eagle  perches? 
The  surrender  at  Santiago  occurred  just  before  Col. 
Cavanaugh's  regiment.  He  took  part  in  the  so-called  Puni- 
tive Expedition — which  did  not  punish  Mexico,  and  has 
been  stationed  mainly  in  Utah  and  California.  He  was 
graduated  from  West  Point  in  1895. 

Lieut.  Col.  Eldred  D.  Warfield  is  in  charge  of  the 
Divisional  School  of  Arms  close  by.  There  officers  are 
sent,  fifty  at  a  time,  for  several  weeks'  intensive  training 
in  all  such  branches  as  hand-grenade  throwing,  bayonet 
work  and  the  like,  training  by  experts  in  certain  lines. 
Upon  returning  to  their  companies,  these  officers  obtain 
more  efficiency.  Col.  Warfield  was  graduated  from  West 
Point  in  1899,  from  the  Infantry  and  Cavalry  School  in 
1905,  and  the  next  year  from  the  Signal  School. 


The  363rd,  Col.  Cavanaugh's,  calls  itself  the  Golden 
West  Regiment.  From  it,  early  in  1918,  some  were  ordered 
to  France,  and  of  them  seventeen  have  already,  as  soldiers 
on  the  battle  line  say,  "Gone  West,"  out  through  the  roar 
of  guns  to  the  stillness  of  God,  from  the  hell  of  hate  to 
the  beautiful  gate,  through  the  murky  smoke  to  the  Golden 
West,  "back  Home." 


CAMP  LEWIS  179 

Manuel  Parco  Raymond  Copsey 

Doniphan  E.  Roe  Walter  L.  Bones 

Guiseppi  Fannuchi  Mario  Maschio 

Chris  Busch  Eugenio  Franceschetti 

Russell  Murr  William  R.  Ledford 

Alex  C.  Hipes  Hans  R.  Lars\on 

Will  E.  Rhoades  Raymond  Grover 

Demetrio  Hatzidakis  Joas  da  Costa  Molles 
Matheus  D.  Souza 

The  363rd  claims  First  Honors  of  the  Ninety-First 
Division  for  these  who  "have  fought  a  good  fight  and 
have  finished  their  course."  With  great  pride  of  possession, 
their  comrades  remember  them  this  First  Camp  Lewis 
Memorial  Day. 

Speaking  of  France,  the  363rd  has  one  still  attached 
to  the  91st  Division,  attending  the  Staff  Officers'  School 
there,  Major  Henry  Breckinridge,  graduate  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Bishops  College,  Lennoxville,  Canada,  A.  B.  at 
Princeton  1917,  L.  L.  B.  Harvard  Law  School  1910,  As- 
sistant-Secretary of  War.  Three  years  later  he  resigned 
and  went  to  France.  His  description  of  the  battle  of  the 
Marne  is  something  to  be  remembered,  for  Breckinridge 
is  an  orator.  He  returned  to  this  country  and  went  into 
the  army.  It  was  inevitable,  for  war  is  in  the  blood,  and 
he  is  of  "the  Loyal  Breckinridges."  His  father  went  into 
the  Civil  war  in  1861  as  Second-Lieutenant  and  was  brevet- 
ted  for  bravery  until  at  the  war's  end  he  was  Major-Gen- 
eral.  He  commanded  the  army  at  Chickamauga;  at  San- 
tiago he  fought  again  at  the  head  of  Volunteers.  Henry 
was  too  young  for  the  Spanish-American,  he  is  only 
thirty-two  now,  and  was  Major  of  2nd  Battalion  at  Camp 
Lewis.  He  wears  the  brass  leaf  which  shows  the  lowest 
field,  or  mounted  officer;  that  is  he  did  when  this  was 
written,  but  it  is  hard  to  keep  up  with  a  Breckinridge. 

The  2nd  Battalion  lost  its  Commanding  officer,  tempor- 
arily, again  when  Major  Woolnough  was  detailed  as  Chief 
Instructor  at  the  Fourth  Officers  Training  Camp.  His 
appointment  shows  one  reason  for  efficiency  in  his  bat- 


180  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

talion.  At  Fort  Sheridan  he  was  twice  military  instructor. 
Col.  Cavanaugh  had  seen  Maj.  Woolnough's  work  at  Sheri- 
dan and  made  an  effort  to  have  him  assigned  to  the  363rd. 
Capt.  McCullough  of  Company  H  and  three  Lieutenants, 
Strong,  Armstrong  and  Marguard  from  the  regiment  will 
be  instructors  in  the  Training  School.  All  three  certainly 
bear  good  stout  names,  if  the  last  applies  his  to  mar  a 
German  guard,  and  here's  hoping  he'll  do  that  same. 

To  return  to  the  composition  of  a  regiment  of  infantry : 
it  has  three  battalions,  called  because  so  drawn  up  for 
battle — each  battalion  in  charge  of  a  major,  a  larger,  or 
greater,  than  captain.  There  are  four  companies  to  a 
batallion,  and  these  twelve  rifle  companies  in  a  regiment 
are  lettered  from  A  to  M,  so  if  you  wish  to  reach  Him 
without  search  or  delay,  address  Private  John  Doe,  Co.  D., 
2nd  Bat.,  363rd  Inf.  The  head  of  a  company  is,  literally, 
a  cap-tain  leading  250  heads  now.  He  wears  two  silver 
bars  upon  his  shoulder  straps.  When  companies  were  so 
much  smaller  than  in  this  war,  a  good  captain  knew  all 
his  men.  Now  they  are  drilled  by  lieutenants  in  platoons, 
beginning  even  with  squads,  squares  that  means,  of  eight, 
a  corporal  one  of  them,  incorporated  in  the  middle  where 
he  can  be  heard.  To  each  company  there  are  three  first 
lieutenants,  distinguished  by  one  silver  bar,  and  two 
second  lieutenants  with  one  brass  bar.  A  second  lieutenant 
is  the  lowest  commissioned,  or  line  officer,  in  the  army, 
and  began  by  being  the  most  consequential,  but  the  hard 
work  of  this  training,  and  the  responsibility  for  their 
men's  precision  have  offset  the  tendency.  Some  of  them 
are  really  quite  folksy  with  civilians. 

Captain  T.  D.  Driscoll  was  of  Headquarters  Company 
until  April  when  he  was  promoted  to  Division  Headquart- 
ers as  Intelligence  Officer  and  Camp  Censor.  The  363rd 
is  indebted  to  him  for  founding  a  newspaper  which  in 
several  respects  is  absolutely  unique.  Doubly  well  named, 
it  climbed  Over  The  Top  December  15,  1917,  and  has  been 
climbing  ever  since.  It  has  been  favorably  noticed  by 
the  great  New  York  Tribune,  itself  unique  among  news- 
papers for  two  generations.  The  Spiker,  clever  trench 


CAMP  LEWIS  181 

paper  published  in  France  by  the  18th  Engineers,  that 
superb  unit  which  left  Camp  Murray  last  Fall  for  the 
front — The  Spiker  has  driven  another  high  peg  by  which 
to  measure  Over  The  Top's  success,  by  praising  and  quot- 
ing it.  In  this  paper  the  363rd  Infantry  contributes  sev- 
eral First's — and  Only's: 

No.  1,  in  publishing  a  regimental  newspaper,  not  only 
at  Camp  Lewis,  but  anywhere: 

No.  2,  in  paying  its  way  from  the  start  and  actually 
clearing  a  little  money,  for  the  regiment,  of  course. 

No.  3,  in  a  staff,  from  cub  reporter  to  editor-in-chief, 
working  f(or  love,  not  money,  which,  to  be  frank,  accounts 
for  the  truth  of  the  former  astounding  statement. 

No.  4,  in  being  First  and  Only  in  carrying  a  regular 
subscription  of  One  Hundred  Percent  in  its  circulating 
area;  for  every  one  in  the  regiment,  from  Col.  Cavanaugh 
down,  subscribes  for  "Over  the  Top." 

Its  first  and  only  editor,  A.  J.  Tormey,  writes  most  of 
the  editorials  and  attends  to  the  publishing,  though  "out 
in  the  world"  his  was  the  business  end;  he  was  for  ten 
years  manager  of  the  Enquirer,  Oakland,  California. 
There  are  eighteen  co-editors,  all  from  different  companies, 
whose  rivalry  works  well  for  news.  First-Lieut.  D.  J. 
Smith  is  in  charge,  and  Second-Lieut.  H.  P.  Vickery  is 
associated  with  him.  "When  the  363rd  goes  over  the  top, 
it  takes  Over  The  Top,  You  bet."  He  is  mistaken,  how- 
ever. I  never  bet. 

Speaking  of  Lieutenants,  reminds  me  of  Lieut.  Law- 
ton's  estate  just  behind  the  last  line  of  trenches  (Division- 
al) which  makes  you  long  to  quit  active  business  and  take 
to  playing  house.  He  has  gathered  the  omnipresent  field 
stones — that  glacier  knew  what  it  was  to  be  cold,  and 
provided  enough  cobblestones  for  a  nation's  fireplaces — 
and  b  u  i  1  d  e  d  them  into  a  mound,  with  an  opening 
through  which  extends  an  old  stove  pipe  wearing  a  Shaker 


182  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

bonnet  to  protect  it  from  wind  and  rain.  Bordering  the 
front  of  the  brown  tent,  bounded  by  a  low  sapling  wall, 
is  a  lawn,  so  called  because  a  man's-size  lawn  handkerchief 
can  be  entirely  out-spread  on  each  side  of  an  imposing 
gravel  walk,  your  two  feet  wide  and  your  six  feet  long, 
which  extends  the  entire  distance  from  gate  to  tent-flap. 
At  one  side  is  a  rustic  bench  upon  which  the  pedestrian 
may  rest  half  way,  and  gaze  upon  the  lovely  greens  of 
the  fir  wood  beyond,  greens  which  empurple  and  gray  and 
blacken  as  night  creeps  on.  At  the  other  side  of  this  fairy 
garden  is  a  sundial,  and  oh  how  I  want  that  sundial!  I 
have  never  yet  stolen  anything,  but  I  feel  in  my  bones 
that  I  shall  fall  from  grace  before  the  close  of  my  long 
and  useful  life,  and  I  fear  that  a  sundial  will  prove  that 
blot  on  my  'scutcheon.  Already,  though  several  of  them 
have  begged  me  to  "Count  only  sunny  hours,"  they  have 
clouded  my  day  with  envy;  in  Europe;  in  that  lovely  lane 
near  the  Old  Mission  in  Santa  Barbara;  in  lonely  Kodiak, 
where  an  old  copper  sundial  tempted  and  the  little  Greek 
church  just  beyond,  rebuked;  in  Cuba,  in — and  now  Lieut. 
Lawton's !  His  is  a  section  of  small  tree  about  a  foot  high. 
Wire  nails  driven  into  the  top  mark  the  hours  and  a  wire 
segment  cast  a  fine  shadow  as  I  gazed  in  envy.  The  sun 
came  out  on  purpose  to  show  how  it  worked,  or  rather 
played.  I  really  think  this  should  be  counted  unto  rne  for 
righteousness,  no  one  was  near,  I  had  an  auto,  the  sundial 
was  not  heavy,  I  shall  never,  never  have  another  such 
chance  to  possess  one.  It  only  again  proves  what  a  perfect 
nuisance  a  Puritan  conscience  is.  I  did  not  take  that  sun- 
dial, you  can  see  for  yourself  if  you  cross  the  bridge  over 
the  last  trench.  Perhaps,  what  think  you  ?  It  might  really 
have  been  intended  for  me.  Circumstances  certainly  pointed 
that  way.  Well,  I  have  burned  the  bridge  behind  me  by 
telling  all  this. 

Do  you  suppose  the  regimental  mascot,  the  Airedale 
which  Mayor  Rolph  of  San  Francisco  gave  the  363rd  boys 
from  the  Bay  Cities  when  they  left,  really  had  anything 
to  do  with  their  soccer  team's  winning  Divisional  champ- 
ionship in  April  and  receiving  the  "life-sized"  silver  foot- 


CAMP  LEWIS 


183 


COL.   CAVANAUGH,   MAYOR  ROLPH  AND   OTHERS 

ball  upon  ebony  base  presented  by  the  Knights  of  Colum- 
bus at  their  Auditorium?  An  Airedale  looks  bad  enough 
to  be  "good  medicine".  National  K.  C.  Secretary,  A.  G. 
Bagley  made  the  presentation  speech  and  Col.  Cavanaugh, 
on  behalf  of  his  regiment,  received  the  handsome  trophy, 
and  responded  in  the  manner  which  makes  his  regiment 
call  him  "our  Colonel"  instead  of  "the  Colonel".  Captain 
Lieutenant  Father  Galvan,  as  an  enthusiast  dubbed  the 
chaplain  of  the  363rd;  who  coached  his  team,  also  spoke 
a  few  words. 

A  large  majority  of  the  men  of  this  regiment 
are  Catholics,  but  he  would  be  as  popular  otherwise. 
Born  in  Ireland,  graduated  from  the  National  University, 


184  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

he  came  immediately  to  this  country  and  San  Francisco, 
as  Arch-Bishop  Reardon  of  that  city  had  interested  him 
and  other  students  when  the  Bishop  made  his  regular 
triennial  visit  to  his  old  home.  The  young  priest  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  at  All  Hallows  and  later  at  St.  Patrick's, 
Oakland.  He  became  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  a  year 
ago,  entered  the  army  and  came  as  chaplain  to  Camp. 

At  eight  o'clock  every  Sunday  morning,  Father  Galvan 
holds  mass  in  Assembly  Hall  of  the  363rd  at  a  simple  altar 
which  he  sets  up  for  the  purpose,  and  which  packs  into 
a  Field  box  for  this  doctor  of  souls- wounds,  just  as  a 
Field  Surgeon's  equipment  does.  Speaking  of  clergymen 
suggests  an  odd  thing  in  the  ordination  of  a  young  Epis- 
copalian of  the  363rd,  Schuyler  Pratt,  graduate  of  Wil- 
liams College  and  Yale  Theological  School,  and  just  ready 
to  enter  the  ministry  when  he  enlisted.  Still,  he  wished 
to  be  ordained  before  leaving  for  France,  in  his  home  city, 
Tacoma,  which  was  done.  He  preached  his  first  sermon 
thereafter  that  evening  at  St.  Luke's,  in  which  he  had 
grown  up,  then  returned  to  the  cantonment  to  continue  his 
course  of  study  against  Germans. 

To  return  to  presentations:  celebrating  the  third  an- 
niversary of  Italy  into  the  war,  an  Italian  program  was 
given  in  Knights  of  Columbus  hall  contiguous  to  this  regi- 
ment, the  most  important  part  of  which  was  the  presenta- 
tion of  the  flag  of  Italy  to  the  363rd  in  which  so  many 
of  those  born  under  it,  now  serve.  It  was  accepted  by 
Col.  Cavanaugh  with  cordial,  witty,  and  appropriate 
words,  and  Guiseppe  Bondonno  sang  patriotic  airs.  It  was 
a  significant  ceremony,  of  a  kind  that  does  much  to  strike 
out  the  hyphen,  and  the  Hun.  Of  Company  H.  is  an 
Italian  private  who,  with  three  brothers,  one  in  the  next 
lettered  company  and  the  other  two  at  other  canton- 
ments all  enlisted  early.  Their  mother  should  be  proud 
for  she  said  "Yes,  go.  This  is  our  country,  go,"  Her 
name  is  Silvera,  a  silver  name  for  a  precious  gift,  four 

sons,  none  drafted. 

*******         *         *         * 

The  363rd  won  championship  at  the  April  Divisional 
meet  for  accuracy  in  throwing  hand  grenades,  also  highest 


CAMP  LEWIS  185 

individual  score  by  Merman,  thirteen  points,  an  unlucky 
number  for  Huns  in  the  near  future;  this  at  seventy-five 
feet  from  behind  a  parapet.  He  twice  pitched  the  grenade 
exactly  where  the  bullseye  would  have  been  had  there 
been  one  in  the  white  circle  paintd  upon  the  ground. 

When  the  91st  Division  left  Camp  Lewis  for  the  war 
it  was  by  different  routes.  The  363rd  traveled  through 
Canada  and  in  Calgary,  Alberta,  June  23,  1918,  had  the 
honor  of  marching  under  arms,  First  foreign  troops  to 
do  so  in  Canada,  although,  several  years  before,  the  Sea- 
forth  Highlanders  enjoyed  that  distinction  in  Tacoma. 
Thinking  the  363rd  would  like  to  hand  down  that  First 
to  their  children,  I  sent  to  Calgary  for  this  picture. 
When  those  children  show  it  to  theirs  will  war  be  no 

more,  or  will  they  be  preparing  for  another? 

*******          *** 

THE    364TH    INFANTRY 

Colonel  George  McDonald  Weeks  is  of  a  fighting  family. 
His  father,  graduate  of  the  Military  Academy  in  1857, 
served  as  Captain  of  Artillery  in  the  Civil  War,  was  Colonel 
of  the  19th  Infantry  with  McClellan  in  the  Peninsular  Cam- 
paign, and  with  General  Howard  in  the  Nez  Perce  campaign 
retiring  in  '98  as  Quartermaster-General  of  the  Army.  It 
was  while  stationed  in  Arizona  that  this  son  was  appointed 
to  West  Point.  Col.  Weeks  married  the  daughter  of  Col. 
Joseph  F.  Huston.  Col.  Weeks  was  in  Cuba  during  the 
second  occupation,  at  Tien  Tsin — stationed  "everywhere" 
including  Leavenworth,  and  Fort  Wayne,  Detroit,  and  was 
in  the  Philippines  for  the  fourth  time  when,  the  United 
States'  entering  the  war,  garrisons  were  decreased  and  he 
was  ordered  home,  with  his  regiment,  to  Camp  Fremont. 
Coming  to  Camp  Lewis  he  was  assigned  to  the  Depot 
Brigade,  and  started  the  Third  Officers  Training  Camp. 
Only  those  connected  with  it,  realize  the  difficult  and 
speedy  results  demanded  in  acquiring  in  a  little  over  three 
months  the  immediate  essentials  of  a  four  years'  West 
Point  course.  No  wonder  one  of  three,  sometimes  of  two, 
drops  out  before  graduation.  So  Col.  Weeks  points  with 


186 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


363RD  MARCHING  UNDER  ARMS  IN  CALGARY 

pride  to  the  record  of  the  364th  Infantry  in  its  far  largest 
proportion  of  graduates  from  the  third  training  camp. 

This  recalls  a  curious  condition  in  Company  H  at  the 
end  of  March.  When  troops  were  ordered  East,  they  must 
be  furnished  from  companies  not  quarantined,  which  were 
few.  Company  H  was  the  only  364th  company,  by  the 
way,  which  never  had  been  quarantined.  From  it  one 
hundred-fifteen  were  drawn,  leaving  only  line  and  non- 
commissioned officers,  men  in  the  hospitals,  buglers,  etc. 
The  disappointment  in  not  going  with  the  others  really 
worked  to  their  advantage,  however,  for  the  remainder, 
with  full  quota  of  officers,  was  like  an  extra  Officers' 


CAMP   LEWIS  187 

School.  Surely  no  other  Non-Coms  ever  received  such 
intensive  training1. 

There  are  numbers  of  Wyoming  men  in  the  364th,  and 
Gen.  Foltz  was  stationed  at  Cheyenne  when  ordered  to 
Camp  Lewis,  so  when  Governor  Houx  visited  it,  he  was 
welcomed  and  shown  the  cantonment.  The  Governor  says 
he  met  and  shook  hands  with  every  Wyoming  man.  Doubt- 
less: but  when  he  asserts  that  he  remembered  every  mes- 
sage, delivered  same,  and  to  the  right  man,  any  grown 
woman  will  exclaim  Huh,  which  is  to  say  Houx,  must  be 
playing  politics.  If  a  man  remembers  and  delivers  one 
message  to  the  right  person,  he  should  be  elected,  or  re- 
elected  Governor.  Of  course  he  boasted  of  his  State's 
soldiers,  every  statesman  does  that,  but  Gov.  Houx  added 
that  he  was  first  to  wire  the  U.  S.  Provost-Marshal  that 
the  draft  men  were  ready;  also,  said  he,  fewer  had  come 
back  to  Wyoming  than  to  any  other  state. 

But  largely,  the  364th  comes  from  Southern  California 
where  are  many  Italians  drawn  there  by  the  climate,  and 
here  by  the  draft.  A  squad  of  them  is  in  charge  of  a 
corporal  who  rapidly  translates  drill  orders,  but  that  is 
easy.  The  364th  has  one  company  which  contains  seven- 
teen nationalities,  not  sons  of  foreigners,  but  themselves 
all  foreign  born.  To  it  has  just  been  added  an  Esquimo 
from  Kodiak  Island  away  off  on  Shelikoff  Straits.  He  says 
over  a  hundred  have  entered  the  army  from  there.  When 
the  men  in  his  company  learn  what  wonderful  kickers 
these  strong  quiet  Esquimos  are,  what  strange  dancers, 
they  will  have  "stunts"  that  ballet  dancers  will  envy  and 
foot-ball  coaches  demand.  Why,  on  Bering  Sea  I  have 
seen — but  that  is  another  story.  To  return  from  these, 
no  wonder  an  Interpreters'  Corps  is  being  organized  at 
the  camp  for  duty  abroad:  one  would  think  it  would  be 
highly  useful  on  the  cantonment. 

Many  moving  picture  men  from  Southern  California 
are  doing  real  work  now.  If  you  for  a  moment  fancied 
anything  "cissy"  about  them,  you  have  only  to  learn  that 
in  bayonet  work,  the  hardest  thing  soldiers  do  in  camp, 
the  364th  won  most  points  in  hot  contests  at  the  Divisional 
Meet,  their  Star,  by  name  and  fame,  taking  first  honors, 


188  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

opposing  fifty-six  men  without  defeat.  The  regiment  was 
coached  by  "Cy"  Noble,  former  University  of  Washington 
football  star,  but  now  head  of  bayonet  work  in  the  Divis- 
ional School  of  Arms.  The  364th  took  first,  third,  fourth 
and  fifth  place  in  bayoneting,  which  demands  strength, 
agility  and  quick  wit.  The  hanging  "bodies",  the  height 
of  a  man,  which  they  charge,  are  of  stout  withes  a  foot 
thick  and  often  break  the  bayonets  which  must  go  entirely 
through,  and  also  be  withdrawn  in  one  jerk  for  other 


CHARGE,   BAYONETS! 

action.  And  these  targets  are  swung,  remember.  Some- 
times the  targets  are  of  burlap  filled  with  split  shingles. 
They  are  also  fastened  to  the  ground  to  resemble  fallen 
men. 

In  this  fiendish  war  the  bayonet  is  much  used.  It 
is  a  weapon  not  naturally  to  American  taste  but,  as  the 
officers  explain,  it  is  "give  or  get",  and,  knowing  that, 
a  man  feels  that  it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive, 
and  proceeds  to  acquire  skill.  The  officers  insist  that  the 
men  charge  yelling,  and  some,  before  the  attack,  inflame 
their  men  with  stories  of  Hun  atrocities.  There  was 
one  big  good-natured  fellow,  a  wealthy  lumberman, 
who  found  it  especially  difficult  to  work  up  the  neces- 
sary "frightfulness."  He  did  it,  with  sad  results,  in  a 
peculiar  way.  He  had  a  special  aversion  to  chewing  tobacco, 
so  he  decided  nothing  would  make  him  feel  "tougher," 
bought  a  plug  of  the  rankest  he  could  find,  and  just 
as  he  went  into  action,  consigned  as  much  as  he  could 
bite  off  to  his  mouth;  but  in  the  heat  and  excitement  of 


CAMP  LEWIS 


189 


the  charge,  he  stumbled,  fell,  and  swallowed  the  tobacco! 
He  charges  all  that  happened,  plus  the  outrageous  conduct 
of  his  fellows,  to  the  Hun,  and  he  is  now  the  most  vindic- 


A  BAYONET  LEAP 


tive  bayonet  man  in  the  regiment — which  is  not  the  364th, 
however.  I  took  this  painful  recital  out  of  the  361st 
chronicles  for  fear  of  harm  he  might  do  his  company  if 
he  thought  anyone  had  mentioned  it. 


190  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

To  come  across  a  company  upon  the  parade  ground, 
bayoneting  in  pairs,  themselves  and  their  opponents  pro- 
tected by  plaistrons  of  quilted  cotton,  masks  and  gauntlets, 
and  using  stout  wooden  bayonets,  makes  one  feel  that  he 
has  suddenly  returned  to  the  days  of  old  and  of  tourneys. 

In  the  rifle  match  between  the  two  Infantry  Brigades, 
182nd  won,  and  private  Herbert  La  Mar  of  the  364th  holds 
highest  rifle  score  for  a  single  day  in  the  Division  Sniping 
Course.  The  young  officer  who  was  talking  insists  that 
"the  364th  Intelligence  work  cleaned  up  the  whole  camp." 
That  is  another  thing  about  the  men  of  this  regiment,  the 
help-along  spirit.  At  that  Meet,  for  instance,  when  their 
men  were  wall-scaling,  one  of  them  fell  from  the  top  and 
could  not  rise.  One  of  his  comrades  stopped,  picked  him 
up,  and  shoved  him  to  the  goal — what  is  that  about"  the 
feet  that  wait  are  soonest  at  the  goal  that  is  not  won 
by  speed?" 

The  364th  band  was  also  officially  declared  best.  Its 
saxophonist  has  enlisted  the  good  offices  of  the  Y.  M.'s 
in  a  new  field.  He  recived  a  letter  from  a  brother  in  Italy 
then  returned  from  the  campaign  in  Albania,  who  had 
just  learned  that  their  parents,  on  their  little  farm  near 
Venice,  are  now  some  distance  within  territory  captured 
by  Austrians  last  Fall,  and  cannot  be  communicated  with; 
also  that  their  five  other  sons  are  prisoners  to  the  enemy. 
He  wrote  inquiring  if  this  son  knew  aught  of  them.  The 
young  Italian  asked  if  the  Y.  M's  could  gain  any  informa- 
tion for  him.  A  letter  to  their  Headquarters  at  the  Italian 
Front  was  started  at  once  to  assist.  Seven  sons  all  at 
war  and  aged  parents  swallowed  by  the  maelstrom,  surely 
these  Daros  will  fight  well. 

Having  so  much  ex-professional  talent,  the  364th  gave 
a  vaudeville  performance  at  Liberty  Theater  in  May 
which  proved  that  camp  life  only  sharpens  the  wits.  But 
there  are  all  sorts  of  celebrities  in  the  364th.  Capt.  Wat- 
telet,  former  owner  of  the  Victoria  Baseball  Team,  is  a 
member  of  the  Division  Athletic  Council;  Charles  Mullen, 
former  first  baseman  of  Chicago  White  Sox,  is  manager 
of  Camp  Lewis  Baseball  Team  and,  though  a  private,  has 


CAMP   LEWIS 


191 


entered  the  Fourth  Officers  Training  Camp;  Lieut.  "Dan- 
ny" Carroll  who  toured  the  world  with  the  Rugby  All 
Blacks  from  Australia  which  lost  but  one  game  in  their 


CHAPLAIN  WILSON 

long  career,  and  who  is  Divisional  Rugby  Coach;  and 
Corp.  Ireland,  also  Divisional  coach  and  expert  at  jui- 
jitsu. 

Such  a  regiment  needs  a  live  man  for  chaplain  and 
has  one,  himself  young,  athletic,  Californian  though  born 
in  Iowa — it  seems  to  make  no  difference  where  one  is  born 
about  being  Californian,  like  being  an  American.  Bryant 
Wilson  was  graduated  from  the  University  of  California, 
where  he  was  prominent  on  track  and  in  tennis.  He 
then  took  M.  A.  and  Ph.  D.  at  Yale  where  he  was  captain 


192  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

of  the  Divinity  School  Baseball  Team  for  two  seasons. 
Then  he  took  what  gentlefolk  used  to  term  the  Grand 
Tour  through  eight  European  countries,  with  three  col- 
lege friends,  but  they  did  it  in  a  Ford,  camping  out  nights, 
seeing  everything  at  trifling  cost,  and  including  among 
adventures  one  or  two  brushes  with  Germans  who  appeared 
suspicious  of  the  "studenten",  this  was  the  Summer  be- 
fore war  broke  out.  Mr.  Wilson  served  pastorates  in  his 
home  town,  Long  Beach,  and  in  Pasadena,  for  four  years. 
Though  married,  with  a  little  child,  he  offered  his  ser- 
vices soon  after  our  Country  "went  in",  and  came  to 
Camp  Lewis  as  a  chaplain  for  the  364th,  a  regiment  al- 
most entirely  from  his  section  of  California.  Chaplains 
are  not  expected  to  be  denominational,  and  are  not,  but 
if  he  were  pastor  of  a  church,  it  would  be  Baptist.  Church 
lines,  like  party  lines,  are  worn  out  by  the  marching  of 
many  feet.  Only  essentials  count  now.  For  instance,  a 
man  at  one  of  the  Y's  one  night  decided  that  he  wanted 
to  be  baptized  then  and  there.  "Was  there  a  minister 
handy?  Any  kind  would  do."  It  happened  a  Baptist 
clergyman  was,  and  the  soldier  was  baptized  from  a  tea- 
cup in  the  Y  office.  This  spirit  has  been  constantly  gain- 
ing, to  everybody's  satisfaction  except  that  of  an  Episco- 
palian Bishop  who  visited  Camp  Lewis  and  deplored  the 
fact  that  denominational  boundaries  were  being  over- 
looked, which  would  make  confusion  after  the  war.  Jt 
would  seem  that  their  establishment  had  in  past  centuries 
made  all  confusion  possible.  Why  not  leave  Faith  un- 
bounded? Why,  that  is  one  great  Compensation  of  this 
war! 

Lieut.  Wilson  says  that  as  chaplain  it  is  his  business 
to  be  of  any  sort  of  use  to  any  man  in  the  364th  who 
needs  him,  and  as  he  is  one-fourthousandth  of  them,  it 
keeps  him  well  out  of  mischief.  In  case  time  should  lag, 
however,  he  looks  up  men  whose  home  people  have  writ- 
ten to  enquire,  "What's  the  matter  with — ?"  Sundays 
he  commences  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  holding 
hour  services  in  one  mess  hall  after  another,  about  six 
or  eight.  These  meetings  are  generally  well  attended 


CAMP  LEWIS  193 

though  attendance  is,  of  course,  in  no  way  obligatory. 
Some  sergeants  interest  themselves  in  filling  the  hall. 
One  put  it  to  his  men  in  these  sanctimonious  words,  "Now 
boys,  a  little  religion  won't  do  you  a  d —  bit  of  harm,  and 
perhaps  '11  do  you  a  h —  of  a  lot  of  good" —  that  on  the 
authority  of  a  Y.  M. 

To  each  regiment  of  Infantry  there  is  also  a  machine 
gun  company,  a  signal,  a  bomber,  and  a  pioneer  platoon; 
a   supply  company  to   provide  for   all   the   others,   their    I 
ordnance,    transportation,    clothing,    food;    a   medical    de-     \ 
tachment.     In  short,  each  Brigade  is  like  a  little  army, 
almost  complete  in  itself,  like  a  State;  and,  again,  each 
regiment  is  like  a  smaller  army,   a   City.     All   this  has 
changed  since  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and  is  still  chang- 
ing. 


14 


194  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

THE  181ST  BRIGADE  AND  COMMANDER  STYER — WILKES'  RELA- 
TIVES DID  COME — COL.  W.  D.  DAVIS,  LT.  COL.  BENNETT 
AND  THE  361ST  INFANTRY — THEIR  TRENCHES  AND  DUG- 
OUTS— THEIR  RANKING  RECORD  AT  DIVISIONAL  MEET,  THE 
100%  TOWSON'S — DINNER  TO  FOREIGN  OFFICERS — COL. 
WHITWORTH  AND  THE  362ND — NOTED  FOOTBALL  GAME— 
LT.  COL.  JORDAN  AND  A  AND  B  RANGES — ANOTHER  FAMILY 
ALL  IN — BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JOHN  B.  MCDONALD. 

Of  an  old  Pennsylvania  Dutch  family  is  Henry  Delp 
Styer,  as  two  of  his  names  indicate  and  a  huge  Bible 
back  East  attests.  It  shows  that  the  Kaisers'  pretensions 
to  kin  and  kinship  with  God  once  extended  to  their  kin- 
dred; for  among  angels  and  prophets  stand  three  German 
princes  who  have  quite  literally  followed  the  command, 
"put  on  the  full  armor,"  and  whose  features  are  portraits. 
As  if  a  German  prince-angel  were  not  preposterous  enough 
without  the  anachronism ! 

Styer  was  born  in  the  second  year  of  the  Civil  War. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  United  States  Military  Acad- 
emy in  1884,  was  Lieutenant  fourteen  years  in  Western 
service,  Wyoming,  Utah,  Indian  Territory.  He  was  sta- 
tioned three  times  at  Fort  Niagara,  N.  Y.  where  he  com- 
manded from  1909  to  1912.  In  the  Philippines  he  served 
as  Captain,  1898-1902  and  was  mentioned  in  orders  for 
capturing  the  notorious  guerrilla  Vicente  Prado  who  had 
become  such  a  terror  to  his  own  people  that  they  would 
not  even  admit  he  was  in  their  locality.  Came  a  young 
officer  with  news  of  Prado's  whereabouts,  and  Capt.  Styer 
decided  to  take  him  by  disregarding  universal  custom,  by 
braving  the  midday  tropical  sun  under  which  even  the 


CAMP  LEWIS 


195 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL    H.    D.    STYER 


land  takes  a  siesta.  Five  rode  silently  along  the  soft 
road,  hoping  their  horses  would  not  neigh  their  remon- 
strance to  the  brazen  heat,  until  they  distinguished  foot 
prints.  Dismounting,  they  crept  upon  the  bandit  and  his 


196  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

followers,  asleep  in  the  shade,  seized  all  and  carried  back. 
Prado  was  confined  by  himself  in  the  strongest  place  the 
post  afforded,  under  heavy  guard  night  and  day  until  he 
was  hanged.  He  had  so  terrorized  the  Filipinos  that  even 
then  they  dared  not  pass  his  prison  and  many  scarcely 
slept,  so  said  one  who  lived  there  at  the  time,  until  Prado 
swung  into  that  land  where  the  wicked  cease  from 
troubling. 

Capt.  Styer  was  professor  of  Military  Science  and 
Tactics  at  Utah  Agricultural  College  for  six  years  in  two 
periods.  He  was  with  the  2nd  Division  in  Texas,  1913, 
on  the  Border  at  Eagle  Pass,  and  was  graduated  from  the 
Army  War  College  the  next  year.  He  served  as  Senior- 
Inspector  Instructor  of  New  Jersey  National  Guard  for 
two  and  a  half  years.  Promoted  to  Colonel,  1916,  he  went 
to  Yuma  the  next  year,  was  made  Brigadier-General  in 
1917  and  transferred  to  the  National  Army,  arriving  at 
Camp  Lewis  in  August  to  organize  and  command  the 
181st  Brigade. 

Again  the  fateful  connection  between  the  Old  and  the 
New  in  the  coming  of  Styer  to  Camp  Lewis!  His  wife 
is  grand-daughter  of  Admiral  Wilkes,  a  clever  woman,  and, 
like  her  famous  grand-father,  keenly  observant  and  a  col- 
lector. Filipino  basket-hats  bespeak  their  wearer's  district 
and  are  of  exquisite  workmanship — when  a  man  wears 
only  a  shirt-collar  and  a  pair  of  spurs  he  wants  them 
good.  These  hats,  numbering  one-hundred-fifty,  without 
duplicates,  were  purchased  from  the  very  heads  of  natives 
and  are  loaned  to  the  Buffalo  Museum,  which  is  near  Ft. 
Niagara.  The  museum  of  Boston,  by  the  way,  contains 
the  diamond-hilt  sword  presented  to  Admiral  Wilkes  with 
the  thanks  of  Congress.  In  Washington,  D.  C.  are 
several  Wilkes  collections.  A  botanist,  in  all  his  books 
are  references  to  the  flora  of  the  country  he  was  exploring. 
He  was  father  of  the  Botanical  Garden  at  the  Capitol, 
having  brought  to  Washington  rare  plants  and  trees  from 
many  lands,  including  the  first  Royal  palm  which,  planted 
in  a  conservatory,  literally  raised  the  roof  in  its  enthusi- 
astic growth.  He  brought  rare  orchids  from  many  lands 


CAMP  LEWIS  197 

to  the  Garden.  Wilkes  refers  to  the  varied  flora  of  this 
Puget  Sound  region,  spirea  for  instance,  tree-size,  called 
arrow-wood  by  Indians  because  of  their  use  for  its  tough 
slender  branches. 

Born  in  1801,  entering  the  navy  at  fifteen,  exploring 
and  surveying  the  South  Sea  Islands,  writing  many  books, 
including  "Western  American",  "Theory  of  the  Winds," 
collecting  old  paintings — he  was  no  mean  artist  himself — 
Wilkes  was  busy  till  the  last  of  his  seventy-six  years, 
though  his  daughter,  past  ninety,  is  president  of  the  Wo- 
men's Auxiliary,  Washington,  D.  C.  diocese  and  takes 
especial  interest  in  the  war,  having  sixteen  nephews  and 
grand-nephews  officers  in  it,  army  and  navy.  Miss  Wilkes 
had  the  portrait  of  her  father,  painted  by  Sully  in  1845, 
photographed  especially  for  this  book  and  learning  that 
its  pictures  were  autographed,  cut  a  signature  from  a  fam- 
ily letter,  to  be  pasted  upon  the  photograph. 

Of  the  descendants  serving  are  the  two  sons  of  Gen. 
and  Mrs.  Styer,  Delp  in  the  army,  Charles  Wilkes  Styer 
in  the  navy.  Their  mother  acknowledged  a  divided  loyalty 
the  day  she  walked  betAveen  her  West  Point  cadet  and  her 
Annapolis  middy  to  the  Army  and  Navy  Football  game 
just  before  their  graduation. 

Odd  that  Admiral  Wilkes  should  have  written  of  his 
desire  to  return  to  this  beautiful  region,  bringing  family 
and  friends  with  him  to  the  very  spot  where  Gen.  Styer's 
Headquarters  of  the  181st  Brigade  stand.  With  the  same 
love  of  flowers,  its  Commander  planted  them  everywhere 
and  in  a  letter  of  thanks  for  many  donated  said,  "We  have 
received  plants  and  rose  bushes  from  various  parts  of 
the  state  as  well  as  from  Tacoma.  We  shall  not  remain 
here  to  enjoy  them  ourselves,  but  the  291st  or  the  591st 
Infantry  Brigade  may  reap  the  benefit.  Camp  Lewis  has 
come  to  stay  whether  the  war  lasts  six  months  or  six 
years." 

Just  before  the  arrival  of  Brig.  Gen.  Helmick,  In- 
spector-General of  the  United  States  army,  who  made  the 
First  General  Inspection  of  Camp  Lewis,  Brig.  Gen.  Styer 
conducted  a  minute  inspection  of  the  181st  Brigade,  ac- 


198  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

companied  by  his  Aid,  Lieut.  Jack  Browne,  and  Maj.  W. 
E.  Finzer,  Brigade  Adjutant  who  had  been  Adjutant  of 
Oregon,  Colonels  Davis  and  Whitworth,  Lt.  Col.  Bennett 
and  Maj.  Hanson  of  the  Machine  Gun  Battalion.  If  there 
was  anything  overlooked,  from  bed  and  board  to  bombing 
and  bayoneting,  the  181st  Infantry  Brigade  failed  to  know 
what  it  was,  for  Brig.  Gen.  Styer  had  been  Senior-In- 
spector Instructor. 

Recalling  early  days  at  Camp  Lewis,  the  Commander 
of  the  181st  twinkled  over  a  story  told  of  one  of  his  Bri- 
gade officers,  a  rather 'consequential  Presidio  graduate  who, 
striding  along  Montana  Avenue  early  in  Fall  when  uni- 
forms were  acquired  piecemeal,  was  hailed  by  a  private 
from  his  home  town  with  a  familiarity  of  former  acquaint- 
ance which  was  most  unbecoming,  as  was  his  attire.  The 
Lieutenant  stopped  and  pointedly  inquired,  "How  long 
have  you  been  at  camp?" 

"Oh,  quite  a  spell,  but  Jim,  you  must  have  been  here 
a  h— 1  of  a  time  to  be  all  togged  out  like  that.  Got  a 

smoke?" 

*******         *** 

Col.  William  Dewstroe  Davis,  commanding  the  361st 
Infantry,  has  had  time  to  acquire  American  ways  and 
fighting  in  the  period  since  his  progenitor  came  to  this 
country  as  Gen.  Lafayette's  Aid-de-Camp.  He  fought 
throughout  the  Revolution  and  remained  to  live  upon 
Governor's  Island  which  was  awarded  him.  Since  then 
the  Davises  and  the  Dewstroe's,  his  mother's  people,  have 
done  their  bit  in  all  the  wars  of  this  country. 

Lieut.  Davis  married  a  daughter  of  Lt.  Col.  Charles 
Greene  of  the  17th  Infantry  whose  people  have  added 
their  fighting  record,  passed  down  from  Nathaniel  Greene, 
ranked  as  the  leading  General  of  the  Revolution,  barring 
Washington,  whose  intimate  friend  he  was.  Nathaniel 
Greene  was  the  scandal  of  Rhode  Island  Quakers.  Bred 
in  godly  manner  to  work  his  farm,  anchor  forge,  grist 
mill,  to  study  only  the  Scriptures,  the  boy  persisted  in 
reading  history,  law,  naval  and  political  science,  studying 
geometry  and  books  of  war,  Such  worldly  acquirements 


CAMP  LEWIS 


199 


COL.   W.   D.   DAVIS 


could  have  but  one  result.  He  was  chosen  Member  of 
Rhode  Island  Assembly  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  engage 
in  military  exercises  in  preparation  for  the  war  with 
England  which  he  felt  to  be  inevitable.  Enlisting  as  pri- 


200 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


HONOR    GUESTS    A 


vate  in  1774,  he  was  the  next  year  appointed  Brigadier- 
General,  something  of  a  promotion,  and  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  army  around  Boston.  He  distinguished  him- 
self at  Trenton,  at  Princeton,  at  Brandywine, — where  he 
commanded  a  Division,  and  at  Germantown  where  he 
headed  the  left  wing.  Becoming  Quartermaster-General 
in  1778,  of  an  army  without  arms,  clothing,  equipment  or 
discipline,  he  proved  what  Nathaniel  means,  "gift  of  God," 
winning  the  -hardest  fought  battle  of  the  Revolution, 
Eutaw  Springs.  Congress  struck  him  a  medal  and  voted 
him  lands  in  the  Carolinas  and  Georgia.  With  peace,  Gen. 
Greene  returned  to  Rhode  Island  where  he  was  the  hero 
of  the  war — wonder  how  the  Quakers  took  it?  Camp 
Greene,  National  Army  Cantonment  at  Charlotte,  N.  C. 
is  named  in  his  honor. 


CAMP  LEWIS 


201 


'ICERS    OF    THE    361ST 


Naturally,  Col.  and  Mrs.  Davis'  son  Frank,  is  at  West 
Point  and  chafing  at  being  unready  for  this  war. 

Col.  Davis  is  a  retiring  man.  Asked  if  he  was  related 
to  a  distinguished  member  of  his  family  he  replied  that 
he  would  answer  after  the  manner  of  a  plain  man  he  knew 
who  "didn't  go  much  on  family  but  had  a  brother  who 
did.  No,  I'm  not  related  to  him,  but  my  brother  is." 

Graduated  from  West  Point  in  1892,  he  was  Lieuten- 
ant in  the  17th  Infantry  for  fourteen  years,  his  father- 
in-law  his  superior  officer ;  fought  at  Santiago,  served  twice 
in  the  Philippines  and  was  Constructing  Quartermaster  for 
the  four  years  allowed  an  officer  at  one  time.  Workmen 
under  him  were  wont  to  remark  that  he  seemed  able  to 
do,  himself,  anything  they  could  do;  that  if  he  ordered  a 
thing  done  a  certain  way,  it  could  be  done  that  way. 


202  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Col.  Davis  is  glad  to  have  the  361st,  and  the  361st  is 
glad  to  have  him,  for  though  he  is  a  strict  disciplinarian, 
he  is  not  a  martinet,  and  as  one  of  his  officers  said,  "works 
us  fellows  hard  but  never  expects  anyone  to  work  harder 
than  he  does."  And  he  possesses  the  saving  grace  of 
humor  of  the  American  type,  humor,  life-saver  of  many 
a  situation  in  an  army  as  heterogeneous  as  this.  His  regi- 
ment is  recruited  from  a  domain  much  wider  than  the 
area  of  war  abroad,  Washington,  Oregon,  Idaho,  Montana, 
and  a  few  from  California.  He  was  himself  born  in  Michi- 
gan, has  seen  Western  service  almost  entirely,  never  had 
a  fancy  assignment,  and  was  for  a  time  Commanding 
Officer  of  the  181st  Brigade.  He  takes  the  keenest  inter- 
est in  everything  pertaining  to  his  regiment  and  is  ready 
with  praise  for  everyone's  work  but  his  own.  For  in- 
stance, visiting  the  Divisional  trenches  and  dugouts  be- 
yond the  Remount,  he  introduced  Capt.  Scudder  as  the 
man  who  was  to  be  credited  with  completing  for  the  361st 
all  six  dugouts  required,  excavated  and  built,  by  every 
regiment  in  the  Division,  before  any  other  had  finished 
one.  This  Capt.  Scudder  denied,  "If  it  had  not  been  for 
the  Colonel's  system  and  the  way  he  stayed  with  it,  the 
thing  would  not  have  been  done."  Capt.  Scudder  then 
produced  Lieutenants  J.  A.  Long  and  R.  C.  Page  who, 
it  seems,  were  also  largely  to  blame.  There  appeared  to 
be  a  common  disposition  to  shift  the  responsibility,  though 
it  seemed  to  rest,  finally,  upon  Col.  Davis.  They  detailed 
sixty  men  in  four  shifts,  so  working  night  and  day,  a 
gain,  beside  time,  in  practice  upon  night  operations  so 
common  at  the  battlefront.  'Trench  approaches  were  senti- 
mentally dubbed  Hooky  Cow  Avenue,  Death  Valley,  and 
the  muddiest,  Pleasant  Lane.  They  excavated  the  first 
dugout  in  eighteen  days  and  it  is  sixty  feet  long,  over 
six  feet  wide.  It  is  doubtful  if  the  soldier  will  ever  en- 
counter more  difficult  excavating,  as  it  extended  through 
glacial  drift  which  will  not  stay  put,  thinks  it  must  live 
up  to  its  name,  rattling  down  from  the  sides  in  a  man- 
ner to  irritate  a  saint;  fortunately  there  were  no  saints 
on  the  job.  The  dugout  is  reached  by  steps  from  the 


CAMP  LEWIS  203 

trench  and  resembles  a  ship's  steerage  except  that  the 
passage  between  the  double-decker  bunks  is  narrow.  You 
would  think  these  underground  dormitories  would  hold 
but  dead  air  for  dead  men.  On  the  contrary,  communi- 
cating at  both  ends  with  open  trenches,  they  conduct  such 
a  current  that  the  end  bunk  is  too  drafty  for  comfort  and 
is  finished  French  style,  with  a  bench  and  called  a  porch. 
Part  way  up  the  steep  staircase  is  set  a  frame  hung  with 
two  heavy  blankets  reaching  to  the  bottom.  These  shut 
out  gas.  Though,  in  both  senses,  it  is  a  long  way  from 
Liberty  Gate  to  the  trenches,  visitors  are  many,  for  there 
they  see  exactly  how  No  Man's  Land  looks.  Except  for 
its  surroundings  of  fertile  patches  and  virgin  forest,  it  is 
desolate  enough  to  make  you  imagine  yourself  at  the 
battlefront. 

Lt.  Col.  Lucius  Bennett,  second  in  command  of  the 
361st,  is  another  man  who  takes  keen  interest  in  the  mak- 
ings of  the  new  army,  and  was  in  charge  of  the  Officers 
Training  School  at  Camp  Lewis  until  ordered  to  return 
to  his  regiment  for  service  in  France.  A  few  of  the  other 
officers  are  regular  army  men  but  the  majority  are  from 
the  Reserve  Corps.  Maj.  Mudgett  and  Capt.  Williams  are 
of  the  regulars.  The  latter  had  some  odd  experiences 
because  of  being  confounded — such  an  appropriate  word — 
with  another  Williams,  also  a  captain,  in  spite  of  this  one's 
distinctive  first  name,  Carmi,  taken  from  the  "begat 
chapter."  He  has  been  in  the  regular  army  twelve  years 
and  was  in  charge  of  building  the  regimental  trenches  of 
the  361st,  extending  beyond  Base  Hospital.  These  are 
very  interesting  to  civilians  and  though  not  so  extensive 
are  more  accessible  than  the  Division  trenches.  The 
sides  are  kept  up  with  wattling  which  makes  them  re- 
semble huge  fish  traps.  Sandbags,  in  this  case  gravel 
bags,  protect  top  and  firing  step.  Fire  and  water,  bene- 
ficent both,  destructive  both!  In  Valdez,  Alaska,  built 
upon  the  sea's  edge  and  edge  of  a  receding  glacier's  bed, 
gravel  bags  are  used  to  bank  the  streams  which  issue 
from  the  wall  of  ice  beyond  and  which  continually  change 
their  course  because  of  frequent  slight  earthquakes.  Camp 


204  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Lewis  really  owes  a  good  deal  to  the  glacier  which  cut  the 
valley;  for  instance,  it  owes  me  three  pairs  of  perfectly 
good  shoes  cut  to  the  quick  in  this  book's  service,  but  not 
upon  the  walks  laid,  or  rather  piled,  around  Quarters 
everywhere.  "Why  did  they  make  such  impossible  ban- 
quettes, the  Creole  word  seems  appropriate,  Col.  Davis?" 

"So  they  would  never  be  spoiled  by  anyone's  stepping 
upon  them,"  he  explained,  as  he  like  the  others,  walked 
beside  them. 

"Yes,  the  Ninety-First  has  accomplished  a  great  deal 
here  in  these  few  months,  but  we  should  have  done  more 
if  we  had  had  more  time:  it  gets  late  so  early  here,"  he 
complained  whimsically.  Nobody  can  say  of  Col.  Davis 
what  a  man  did  of  a  dull  neighbor,  that  he  could  stay 
longer  in  half  an  hour  than  anyone  else  he  ever  saw. 
To  return  to  the  regimental  trenches,  they  present  a  life- 
size  study  of  conditions  abroad,  being  of  regulation  depth 
and  breath.  Here,  all  day  long,  in  classes  of  enlisted  men, 
of  Non-coms,  of  officers  trained  by  an  expert  to  instruct, 
they  practice  bayoneting,  leaping  upon  dummy  victims 
across  the  trenches  or  jumping  into  them  in  reckless 
charges  which  it  turns  your  ankles  to  watch.  And  re- 
member, a  ten-foot  jump  into  a  ditch,  without  breaking 
even  one  of  your  two-hundred-and-something  bones  is 
not  sufficient,  a  man  must  maintain  his  equilibrium  in 
alighting,  and  not  only  be  ready  for  action  but  act,  jab- 
bing the  bayonet  entirely  through  the  dummy.  Gun  and 
bayonet  weigh  nearly  ten  pounds.  This  takes  agility, 
strong  hearts  and  lungs,  hardened  muscles,  dexterity  and 
quick  wit — remember  that  game  of  jumping  to  avoid 
being  knocked  down  by  a  board,  back  in  September  ?  That, 
and  the  "upsetting  exercises,"  the  manual  of  arms,  racing, 
boxing,  culminated  in  the  wonderful  exhibition  in  the 
April  Divisional  Meet  when  O'Brien  of  the  361st,  and 
Miller  of  the  362nd,  tied  with  such  a  leap  from  a  parapet 
down,  over  twenty  feet!  They  wore  full  uniform  with  its 
thick  collar  which,  especially  when  engaged  in  such  a 
contest,  makes  a  man  feel  like  an  ancient  Pict  wearing 
his  brazen  necklet,  badge  of  servitude.  They  leaped  the 


CAMP   LEWIS  205 

twenty  feet  and  delivered  the  through  thrust  into  a  slat 
dummy.  It  certainly  was  a  bad  lookout  for  Germans. 

One  young  fellow  on  crutches:  trenches?  "No,  baseball, 
but  it's  worth  while  breaking  a  leg  for  I'm  to  go  home 
while  it's  mending.  The  other  fellows  say  they'd  break 
a  neck  for  that."  Yet  one  mother  complained  that  army 
life  had  such  a  hold  upon  her  son  that  after  a  good  quick 
visit  with  the  family,  he  was  actually  homesick  for  camp. 

Athletics  have  played — and  worked,  a  large  part  in 
the  training  of  this  new  army,  recruited  largely  from  city 
men  and  sedentary  employments.  In  these,  the  361st  has 
distinguished  itself.  In  the  April  Meet  referred  to  above, 
Lieut.  E.  L.  Damkroger,  its  athletics  officer  and  coach, 
must  have  been  a  proud  man,  for  the  361st  won  thirty- 
five  points,  the  364th,  thirty-two,  363rd,  twenty,  and  the 
362nd  and  the  44th,  regulars,  each  nineteen.  The  800- 
yard  relay  race,  won  by  a  close  shave,  would  have  gone 
to  the  364th  had  not  one  of  their  runners  started  before 
receiving  the  wand,  so  disqualifying  his  team.  Competi- 
tive squad  drill  was  decided  for  the  361st  also,  with  the 
44th  squad  a  close  second.  Louis  Guisto  took  champion 
honors  for  the  former  by  his  long-distance  grenade  throw 
of  159  feet,  his  ball-playing  in  the  Big  League  making 
him  a  first  class  outfielder  for  that  World  Series  where 
one  tosses  grenades  with  the  speed  and  accuracy  acquired 
when  throwing  balls  with  three  men  on  bases  and  two 
strikes  called. 

In  this  Meet,  the  361st  also  won  the  wall-scaling  con- 
test, five  seconds  ahead  of  the  next  best,  the  Machine-gun 
battalion  team,  viz.  in  28.4  seconds,  and  after  but  one 
day's  practice.  There  are  many  Washington  men  in  the 
361st  and  it  was  Titus,  a  Washington  boy,  who  first  scaled 
the  wall  of  Peking  and  entered  the  city  in  the  Boxer  Re- 
bellion. So  here's  to  you,  wall-scaling  crew,  may  one  of 
you  first  scale  autocracy's  wall  and  enter  Berlin,  and  re- 
turn with  a  Prussian  Helmet  for  this  Wellwisher.  Oh, 
but  I  want  one!  It  would  be  really  more  satisfactory  to 
me,  and  quite  as  useful,  as  the  trunk  belonging  to  Private 
— "of  yours."  You  will  never  forget  him,  will  you,  sit- 


.206 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


ting  upon  his  bed  in  Barracks,  fondly  gazing  by  the  hour 
at  the  trunk  which  would  just  go  under  his  bunk,  and 
upon  which  was  painted  his  name,  large  and  upside  down, 
that  he  might  read  it  as  he  sat  enjoying  his  "only  piece 
of  real  furniture"  for  which  he  had  "horned  in"  every 
cent  he  had  left  when  he  came  into  the  army.  He  had 
nothing  to  put  into  it,  but  the  salesman  had  told  him 
that  "that  there  trunk  would  bear  being  thrown  from  a 


PUSHBALL 

six-story  window."  He  never  had  an  opportunity  to  prove 
the  assertion  as  his  bunk  was  on  the  ground  floor,  bar- 
racks are  never  over  two  stories,  and  he  wouldn't  be  al- 
lowed to  take  a  trunk  when  ordered  to  France.  You  all 
remarked,  however,  that  he  had  his  money's  worth  in 
reading  that  inverted  name  all  Winter  upon  something 

individually  his  own. 

*******          *** 

Lieut.  Ira  Towson  of  Company  H   was  one  of  your 
regiment's  honor  men,  belonging  to  a  family  one-hundred 


CAMP  LEWIS  207 

percent  in  the  war.  He  came  to  Camp  Lewis  from  the 
First  Officers  Training  Camp  at  the  Presidio,  in  August. 
He  has  a  brother  in  aviation  at  San  Antonio  and  his 
father,  formerly  rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Covenant, 
Philadelphia,  and  recently  of  St.  James,  Spokane,  is 
Secretary  at  Y-3.  For  several  months  all  three  were  at 
Camp  Lewis.  The  father  enlisted  as  chaplain  as  soon 
as  we  entered  the  war,  and  while  awaiting  an  appoint- 
ment, entered  Y  work,  but  olive-drab  is  his  favorite  color 
and  he  hopes  to  wear  it  soon.  His  wife  is  a  D.  A.  R., 
active  in  Red  Cross  work.  Mr.  Towson's  great  grand- 
father, Gen.  Nathan  Towson,  was  Captain  early  in  the 
War  of  1812,  fought  in  most  of  the  battles,  participated 
under  Scott  in  the  capture  of  Ft.  Erie,  and  was  promin- 
ent in  the  hard-fought  Battle  of  Niagara.  After  the  war, 
the  City  of  Buffalo  presented  him  with  a  sword  in  recogni- 
tion of  his  services  to  that  city.  He  was  brevetted  for 
bravery  until  he  served  in  the  Mexican  war  as  Major- 
General.  His  two  sons,  like  these  two,  fought  in  the 
Civil  War,  serving  as  gunners  at  Ft.  McHenry  when  Key 
wrote  the  Star  Spangled  Banner.  Why,  a  coward  would 
discover  in  the  cradle  that  he'd  blundered  into  the  wrong 
family  and  die  of  fright. 

And  there  are  the  Tooze's:  the  oldest,  Captain 
Walter  L.,  and  the  twins  Lieutenants  Lamar  and  Leslie 
Tooze,  were  at  Camp  Lewis  at  once.  First  Lieut. 
Lamar  Tooze  was  president  of  the  student  body  at  Uni- 
versity of  Oregon  when  the  Ford  Peace  Mission  went  to 
Europe  two  years  ago,  and  was  invited  to  represent  his 
college  with  that  remarkable  commission,  the  First  of  its 
kind  in  all  history. 

Speaking  of  an  army  in  the  making,  Capt.  Williams 
tells  of  being  accosted,  soon  after  the  first  draft  arrived, 
by  a  man  who  was  digging  near  his  quarters :  "Say,  Reddy, 
this  ain't  the  job  for  me,  I'm  a  bird  of  a  mule-skinner." 
"And  he  was,"  the  Captain  adds,  "I  tried  him.  He's  a  ser- 
geant now  and  a  good  one."  At  that,  he  is  in  command 
of  a  private,  a  Psi  Chi,  a  wealthy  Californian  who  used 
to  dine  with  a  circle  of  his  Frats  in  Tacoma.  Asked 


208  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

one  evening  what  position  he  filled  at  camp,  he  modestly 
answered,  Horse  Valet.  On  the  other  hand,  there  was 
an  old  regular  army  sergeant  who,  like  Kipling's  Mulvaney, 
"was  rejuced  to  the  ranks."  He  had  saved  a  goodly  sum, 
but  entering  this  debonair  army  where  so  much  was  going 
on,  he  got  leave  and  went  to  Portland  with  his  money  and 
the  usual  result,  which,  in  his  case,  ran  from  over-leave 
to  positive  desertion  time.  But  he  was  a  soldier  at  heart, 
and,  ashamed,  reported  to  his  captain  with  the  stripes 
already  ripped  from  his  uniform. 

The  361st  will  remember  Private  F one  of  those 

men  who  think  themselves  capable  of  everything,  even 
to  understanding  women.  His  company  decided  a  barber 
chair  and  outfit  would  be  a  great  convenience  and  con- 
tributed more  than  one  hundred  dollars  for  them.  Oh  yes, 

F was  an  A-l  barber.  The  first  man  he  shaved  was 

all  but  decapitated,  at  least  so  one  inferred  from  the 
shrieks  of  an  excitable  Italian  who,  seeing  the  blood, 
rushed  out  calling  loudly,  "Corp,  Corp,  tell-a  da  serg,  man 
cut-ta  da  face,  Baba  cut-ta  da  man."  He  likely  took  the 
barber  for  an  alien  enemy,  since  the  361st  had  been  in- 
flicted with  a  spy  who  stole  important  papers. 

The  361st  first  formally  entertained  in  honor  of  the 
foreign  officer  instructors  at  Camp  Lewis.  Capts.  J.  C. 
Champion,  E.  W.  Mawdsley,  A.  S.  Foskett;  Lieuts.  Pierre 
Gambier,  R.  Gilbert,  O.  La  Marche,  G.  Batal,  Adj.  G.  C. 
Brizou,  R.  L.  Shaw,  F.  H.  Pugh,  W.  L.  Warrell. 

Gen.  Greene  and  Col.  Brees;  Col.  Whitworth,  Lt.  Col. 
Jordan  and  Maj.  Endicott,  Maj.  Finzer  and  Maj.  Hanson 
attended  to  do  honor  to  the  foreign  officers.  The  pleasant 
affair  was  under  direction  of  Col.  Davis,  who  made  the 
welcoming  address,  to  which  Capt.  Mawdsley  responded. 
Capt.  Champion  spoke  for  the  French  officers,  "On  the 
French  Front,"  and  Lieut.  Shaw  toasted,  "With  the 
British  Army."  Dinners  "to  honor"  are  seldom  anything 
but  perfunctory,  given  to  promote  politics,  to  placate  dis- 
senters, to  honor  their  hosts,  for  any  reason  other  than 
the  ostensible  one;  this  was  a  notable  exception.  Older 
men  and  ranking  officers  gathered  really  to  honor  the 


CAMP  LEWIS 


209 


CHAPLAIN   BRONSON 

men  who  had  won  esteem  for  their  efficiency  as  instruct- 
ors, and  the  affections  of  those  to  whom  they  had  come 
as  brave  strangers. 

The  dinner  was  followed  by  vaudeville  and  boxing 
which  could  scarcely  be  equaled  on  any  stage  outside  of 
an  army  post  today,  for  the  361st  is  rich  in  professional 
stage  talent.  That  April  evening  when  the  181st  Brigade 
was  entertained  by  the  regiment  at  the  big  Y-Auditorium 
will  be  recalled  many  a  time  in  the  trenches. 

Like  every  other  regiment,  the  361st  insist,  "We  lead, 
others  follow."  In  at  least  one  respect  that  is  true  past 
cavil:  their  chaplain,  Lieut.  Eugene  Bronson,  was  the  first 
regimental  chaplain  assigned  to  duty  at  Camp  Lewis.  He 
was  pastor  of  Grace  M.  E.  Church  at  Everett,  Wash.,  was 

§  15 


210  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

commissioned  September  29,  ordered  to  report  at  the  can- 
tonment October  16. 

We  who  have  watched  the  troops  depart  feel  the  truth 
of  this  poem  which  appeared  in  "Over  the  Top"  at  Camp 
Lewis  just  before  the  Ninety-First  went  out: 

THE    PLATFORM     CREW 
By  Lieut.   James  Quinby,   361st   Infantry 

The  troop  train  groaned  to  a  sullen  halt, 

In  the  shadow  of  Devil's  Slide, 
While  the  snorting  helper  coupled  on 

For  the  pull  up  the  Great  Divide. 
I  swung  from  the  car  for  my  feet  were  athirst 

For  the  feel  of  the  ground  again, 
And  I'd  had  my  fill,  in  the  three  days  past 

Of  soldierin'  on  a  train. 
For  I'm  tellin'  you  straight,  it's  worse  than  a  hike 

Or  a  shot  at  the  K.  P.  crew, 
When  you  eat  your  meals  in  a  box  on  wheels, 

With  nothin'  much  to  do. 

A  brakeman  stood  by  the  rearmost  truck, 

And  the  lines  in  his  face  were  grim 
He  growled  and  pointed  up  the  track 

When  I  stopped  and  nodded  to  him. 
I  glanced  ahead  up  the  platform, 

And  I  knew  by  the  bustle  and  noise, 
That  a  crowd  of  the  townsfolk  were  passing 

The  time  of  day  with  the  boys. 
Ah!  We  of  the  troop  train  knew  them 

As  we  know  the  pawns  in  a  play 
For  these  were  the  same  as  the  others  who  came 

To  our  windows,  day  by  day. 

There  was  the  girl  in  the  purple  dress 

With  eyes  too  old  for  her  years; 
And  the  gray-haired  veteran's  wrinkled  wife 

Who  made  a  show  of  her  tears. 
The  pimpled  youth  who  hung  his  hat 

On  the  rack  by  the  pool  room  door — 
The  stolid  Swede  and  the  gentle  Greek, 

Oh,  a  dozen  of  them  or  more. 
And  they  couldn't  have  told  if  you  asked  them 

The  reason  why  they  came 
To  chaff  with  the  men  whom  the  nation  sends 

As  fit  to  play  "The  Game." 

The  brakeman  frowned  on  the  bantering  crowd 

And  voiced  his  grievance  to  me, 
For  the  Pimpled  Youth  and  the  Gentle  Greek 

Are  familiar  to  such  as  he. 
And  familiar  to  me  were  the  words  he  spoke, 

For  I'd  met  them  oft  before 
On  the  human  tongue  and  printed  page 

In  a  nation  gone  to  war. 


CAMP  LEWIS  211 


'Twas  the  pitiful  plaint  for  the  man  who  goes 
On  the  lips  of  the  man  who  stays, 

That  whets  a  knife  for  the  nation's  life 
In  the  midst  of  her  war-tried  days. 

"Now  I  ain't  a  hand  to  kick,"  says  he, 

On  things  I  know  nothin'  about, 
But  it  looks  to  me  like  a  sin  and  a  shame 

For  to  send  these  huskies  out 
To  feed  the  carrion  crows  of  France 

And  rot  in  a  sociable  grave 
While  the  wops  and  loafers  live  at  ease 

In  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  brave. 
Still,  I  ain't  a  bird  to  be  shootin'  my  wad 

About  things  what  I  hadn't  ought, 
But  it  seems  to  me  there's  a  drawhead  free 

In  the  Gov'ment's  train  o'  thought." 

I  looked  at  the  faces  above  me 

Purposeful,  bronzed,  and  clear, 
While  adown  the  train  through  the  gathering  dusk 

There  rippled  a  song  and  a  cheer 
From  the  throat  of  men  who  found  themselves, 

And  knew  why  they  were  there, 
With  their  shoulders  back  and  their  eyes  alight 

On  the  road  to  God  knows  where, 
And  there  on  the  station  platform 

With  the  shoulders  sloping  and  thin, 
Lounged  the  dull-faced  crew  of  the  things  I  knew 

Were  what  these  men  had  been. 


I  thought  of  the  squaring  of  shoulders 

To  the  kiss  of  the  Enfield's  sling 
And  the  rising  and  falling  of  the  hob-nailed  boots 

With  their  cadenced  and  rhythmic  swing. 
I  heard  the  barracks  chorus 

And  the  creak  of  the  cantle  roll 
The  thousand  sounds  of  camp  and  field 

That  have  seared  themselves  on  my  soul, 
I  thought  of  the  days  on  maneuvers, 

And  the  nights  'neath  the  naked  skies 
That  had  quickened  the  pride  in  the  doughboys'  stride 

And  put  the  snap  in  his  eyes. 

I  knew  I  was  right  and  the  brakie  was  wrong, 

But  I  knew  in  my  heart  it  was  true 
That  he  couldn't  get  hep  if  I  told  him, 

So  I'm  passing  it  on  to  you, 
That  they  go  not  as  a  sacrifice, 

Who  answer  the  bugle's  call; 
For  the  things  they  gain  are  greater  than  death, 

It's  the  price  they  pay,  that's  all. 
Maybe  you'll  understand  me, 

But  I  doubt  in  my  soul  if  you  do; 
It  all  depends  on  whether  you're  men 

Or  belong  to  the  platform  crew. 


212 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


THE    362ND    INFANTRY 

In  his  regiment,  to  a  man,  it  would  seem,  Col.  Pegram 
Whitworth  is  regarded  as  The,  if  not  the  Only,  Colonel. 
He  has  identified  himself  so  closely  with  the  work  of  his 


COL.  WHITWORTH 


CAMP   LEWIS  213 

men  that  more  of  them  know  him  personally  than  is 
usual  even  in  the  National  Army.  He  was  born  in  Louis- 
iana and  entered  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at 
eighteen.  In  spite  of  his  youth,  he  kept  up  to  the  mark 
in  all  studies  except  French,  falling  below  a  fraction  of 
one  per  cent  in  that;  so  at  the  year's  end  he  was  informed 
he  was  not  to  go  on.  This  was  a  blow  to  the  boy,  but 
instead  of  giving  up,  he  appeared  before  the  august  Army 
Board  and  put  it  to  them  as  man  to  man.  He  reminded 
them  that  it  was  but  a  fraction,  and  French,  which  he 
had  not  previously  studied,  that  soldiers  could  fight  in 
English,  but  that  he  would  conquer  the  alien  language 
next  semester.  They  held  to  their  decision,  whereupon 
the  lad  politely  remarked  that  he  felt  quite  sure  upon  re- 
flection they  would  see  he  was  right,  that  he  should  not 
miss  his  chance  to  be  a  soldier  for  a  small  lack,  easily 
supplied  the  second  year,  he  would  therefore  leave  his 
address  at  a  hotel  in  a  nearby  city  where  they  might  wire 
him  and  he  would  return.  This  he  did,  saluted,  departed. 
The  next  day  they  did  telegraph  and  he  did  return,  made 
good  as  he  promised,  and  "Peggy",  his  West  Point  name, 
was  graduated  in  1894. 

He  was  ordered  to  El  Paso,  then  to  Fort  Sam  Houston 
at  San  Antonio.  In  the  Spanish-American  war,  he  was 
taken  from  the  18th  Infantry  as  Aid  to  Gen.  McArthur. 
Transferred  from  one  infantry  regiment  to  another,  he 
generally  returned  to  the  1st,  which,  oddly,  camped  at  Mur- 
ray awaiting  the  departure  of  the  91st  Division  to  afford 
quarters  at  Camp  Lewis.  He  was  with  this  regiment  at 
several  posts,  including  Fort  Brady,  Michigan,  and  was 
its  regimental  Quartermaster  in  1906  under  Col.  Duggan 
when  he  sailed  from  New  York  to  the  Philippines  through 
Suez  Canal,  returning  by  the  same  route  with  Gen.  Wood. 
At  Malta,  the  officers  were  entertained  by  the  Governor. 
Here  Whitworth  left  the  ship  and  made  a  tour  through 
Europe,  1908.  He  has  served  three  times  in  the  Islands, 
where  he  was  again  Aid,  this  time  to  Gen.  Duggan,  and 
was  stationed  at  Panama  with  the  10th  under  General, 
then  Colonel,  Greene.  For  several  months  of  1912  he  was 


214  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

in  the  office  of  the  Quartermaster-General  at  Washington. 
At  Galveston  he  built  the  re-inforced  concrete  Fort  Croc- 
kett from  the  ground  up,  •  not  much  ground  either,  nor 
had  it  been  there  much  longer  than  he. 

Graduated  from  the  Line  School  at  Leavenworth  in 
1915,  he  proceeded  to  Nogalles,  Arizona,  as  Major  of  the 
12th,  and  was  then  assigned  to  the  Presidio  where  he 
was  Instructor  at  the  First  Officers  Training  Camp.  Au- 
gust 5,  1917,  he  was  transferred  to  the  National  Army 
and  ordered  to  Camp  Lewis  which  he  reached  August  21, 
Colonel. 

The  Whitworth's  were  from  England  where  one  of 
them,  Joseph,  usurped  his  American  relatives'  seeming 
pre-emption  of  Artillery  and  Arms  improvements,  by  in- 
venting the  breech-loading  cannon  and  rifle.  He  began 
manufacturing  them  in  1854,  and  in  recognition  of  this 
achievement  was  knighted.  Whitworth  shells  were  used 
all  through  our  Civil  War. 

Col.  Whitworth's  mother  was  a  Pegram,  grand-daugh- 
ter of  Maj.  Baker  Pegram,  whose  close  relatives  were  Gen. 
James  Pegram,  Maj  .-Gen.  John  Pegram,  Commander  of 
Virginia's  land  forces  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  Robert 
Baker  Pegram.  Again  the  relationship  between  Wilkes 
and  his  officers  and  Camp  Lewis  and  its  officers!  This 
R.  B.  Pegram  was  of  the  Navy  and  accompanied  the 
Wilkes'  Exploring  Expedition.  The  Virginia  Assembly 
voted  him,  by  acclamation,  a  sword  for  gallant  conduct, 
especially  in  the  capture  of  a  piratical  flotilla  in  the  Sea 
of  China.  Even  the  British  Commander  in  those  waters 
and  Queen  Victoria  herself  sent  Pegram  testimonials. 

Second-lieutenant  Pegram  Whitworth  became  First- 
lieutenant  within  four  years  in  the  Philippines  and  was 
recommended  for  a  medal  for  bravery  by  Gen.  J.  Franklin 
Bell.  While  stationed  at  Manila,  unable  to  obtain  leave, 
he  was  married  to  Col.  Gilbert  Smith's  daughter  who  went 
there  with  her  mother  for  the  ceremony,  the  first  American 
girl  to  wed  an  officer  in  Manila.  Their  boy  Pegram,  must 
be  "a  nat'l  bohn  Colonel."  The  little  family  has  always 
accompanied  Whitworth.  It  made  me  seasick  and  travel- 
worn  even  to  tag  around  after  them  on  paper. 


CAMP   LEWIS  215 

Col.  Whitworth  is  exasperatingly  retiring.  Consider- 
ing how  much  he  has  seen  and  known  he  should  be  more 
generous  with  it.  He  holds  the  Distinguished  Pistol-Shot 
medal,  won  by  three  succeeding  annual  victories  over 
teams  picked  from  the  entire  United  States  Army,  and 
more  difficult  to  acquire  than  the  same  for  rifle  shooting, 
which  he  would  doubtless  have  also  held  only  that,  alter 
two  victories,  foreign  service  prevented  his  appearing  for 
the  third  contest. 

At  Camp  Lewis  he  has  all  along  been  President  of 
the  Benzine  Board,  popularly  so  called,  for  cleaning  out 
officers  either  in  fault  or,  more  frequently,  unsuited  to 
lead.  Col.  Whitworth  was  an  ideal  man  for  this  difficult 
position,  keen,  kind,  firm  with  impersonal  judgment.  An 
unusual  testimony  was  borne  to  this  when,  a  few  days 
after  his  departure  for  France,  an  officer  who  had  passed 
down  and  out  through  the  Benzine  Board  door  said,  "I'd 
have  given  anything  to  go  with  Col.  Whitworth's  regi- 
ment, he's  the  squarest  man  I  ever  saw.  I'm  sorry  I 
couldn't  hold  my  commission,  but  I've  learned  enough  of 
him  and  his  training  to  accept  demotion  and  stick  to  the 
army,  anyway.  I  shall  enter  the  Reserves:  that  time  as  a 
officer  shall  not  be  wasted.  Col.  Whitworth  is  just  and 
capable;  he's  the  real  thing."  If  that  is  not  mention  for 
distinguished  service,  that  tribute  of  a  man  dropped  and 
hurt,  his  feelings  black  and  blue,  what  is?  For  that  mat- 
ter, a  man  capable  of  paying  such  a  tribute  under  the 
circumstances,  and  of  making  such  a  resolve  is  also  "the 
real  thing,"  and  has  his  part,  if  not  a  leading  part,  in 
this  great  tragedy. 

It  was  many  such  cases  as  the  above  which  caused 
Brig.  Gen.  Foltz  when  in  command  of  Camp  Lewis,  to 
make  explanation  of  orders  from  Headquarters  prohibit- 
ing publication  of  names  of  officers  brought  before  the 
Benzine  Board,  in  the  following  kind  words: 


"The  commanding  general  wishes  it  made  known  that 
in  a  majority  of  the  cases  in  which  an  officer  is  ordered 
before  a  board  to  determine  his  fitness  to  retain  his  com- 
mission, and  the  board,  finding  him  unsuitable,  recom- 


216  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

mends  his  discharge,  means  simply  that  he  has  been  found 
to  be  a  square  peg  in  a  round  hole. 

"It  may  be  that  the  larger  part  of  the  responsibility 
for  having  been  so  misplaced  rests  upon  the  imperfect 
machinery  of  selection  which  the  war  department  has 
necessarily  been  compelled  to  use  in  the  urgency  and  hurry 
of  attempting  to  create  an  army  over  night. 

"It  would  be  a  great  injustice  in  most  cases  to  these 
patriotic  and  eager  young  men  to  hold  them  up  to  repro- 
bation, and  everything  possible  should  be  done  to  minimize 
the  disappointment  they  feel  in  being  found  unsuited  for 
the  work  of  officers. 

"Therefore  no  information  as  to  officers  ordered  before 
boards  or  discharged  as  a  result  of  the  reports  of  these 
boards  will  be  given  out  from  this  command." 

Lieut.  Hoover  of  the  Judge  Advocate's  office,  was 
recorder  of  the  Benzine  Board  and  also  council  at  Courts- 
Martial. 

Strange  the  wise  Shakespeare  should  have  questioned, 
"What's  in  a  name?"  Whitworth  was  both  born  and  bred 
to  his.  By  all  accounts,  from  boyhood  he  would  ram  into 
work  then  peg  along  steadily  finding  every  Whit  of  what 
he  was  doing  worth  doing  well.  Same  for  play:  realizing 
how  much  athletics  was  doing  for  recruits  in  building 
enduring  physique,  he  proposed  staging  a  football  game 
in  the  great  Tacoma  Stadium  to  provide  a  fund  for  enlist- 
ed men  of  the  362nd  for  base,  basket  and  football  equip- 
ment, boxing  gloves,  punching  bags  and  the  like.  This 
was  enthusiastically  taken  up  by  his  officers  and  the  game 
played  October  13  before  a  great  crowd,  the  Army  Of- 
ficers Eleven  against  Washington  State  College  under 
"Lonestar"  Dietz,  who  was  not  the  lone  star  by  twenty-two, 
for  both  teams  were  constellations.  Dietz  is  the  Indian 
formerly  ruling  Carlisle  football  and,  incidentally,  husband 
of  Angel  de  Cora,  the  Indian  artist  who  maintains  a 
studio  in  New  York  City. 

A  handsome  souvenir  program  added  to  the  proceeds. 
From  it  were  taken  these  bits  of  fresh  detail  which  the 
362nd  might  like  "to  salt  down." 

"Dietz,  coach  of  Washington  State  is  credited  with 
having  revolutionized  Western  football  by  his  peculiar 


CAMP  LEWIS  217 

style  of  attack  with  its  battering  ram  interference.  He 
has  the  honor  of  being  the  first  Western  coach  to  have 
ever  lead  a  Western  team  to  victory  over  a  team  from 
East  of  the  Alleghenies.  Walter  Eckersall,  of  Chicago, 
who  refereed  the  Washington  State-Brown  game,  said 
Dietz'  eleven  was  the  best  he  had  ever  seen.  Dietz  has  a 
national  reputation.  If  his  team  can  again  turn  the  trick, 
even  the  most  sanguine  of  Eastern  critics  will  have  to 
concede  the  supremacy  of  the  West,  something  they  have 
been  very  loath  to  admit." 

"The  Army  Officers'  football  team  belongs  to  that  class 
known  as  all-stars.  Every  one  of  them  has  played  foot- 
ball on  one  of  the  large  universities,  well-known  colleges, 
or  strong  club  teams.  They  come  from  all  parts  of  the 
United  States  and  so  make  an  organization  that  is  typically 
American.  Not  a  member  of  the  team  is  over  thirty, 
average  age  twenty-five  years,  not  has-beens.  In  fact, 
practically  every  one  was  on  a  college  or  varsity  last  fall. 
They  are  all  members  of  "The  First  Ten  Thousand"  of 
selected  men  picked  by  the  United  States  Government  to 
lead  the  new  National  Army  in  France.  They  have  just 
come  from  three  strenuous  months  of  military  training  at 
the  Presidio  of  San  Francisco,  where  the  survival  of  the 
fittest  was  very  much  in  evidence.  Of  the  three  thousand 
men  that  the  United  States  Government  selected  for  train- 
ing of  officers,  they  belong  to  the  one  thousand  who 
survived." 

"The  public  has  seen  many  famous  all-star  teams  fail 
to  make  good  in  spite  of  their  reputations.  That  was 
because  they  were  taken  from  office  desks  out  of  con- 
dition and  with  little  amount  of  coaching.  But  these 
men  in  addition  to  practicing  football  two  hours  a  day 
for  the  last  four  weeks,  have  been  drilling  and  going 
through  eight  hours  of  physical  and  military  drill  every 
day.  Physically  they  are  fit." 

"Lieutenant  Colonel  W.  H.  Jordan  has  given  the  squad 
the  benefit  of  his  football  experience  and  coaching.  He 
knows  the  game  from  start  to  finish.  Before  entering 
the  United  States  Army,  he  lived  in  Portland  and  was 
the  star  halfback  and  captain  of  the  Multnomah  Athletic 
Club.  That  was  some  years  ago.  Since  then  he  has 
coached  hundreds  of  army  teams  and  followed  the  game 
closely." 

"Lieutenant  Duerr,  right  end,  played  under  Stagg  at 
Chicago  University,  and  in  his  prep  days  at  Culver  Mili- 
tary Academy;  Lieutenant  May,  captain  of  the  Oregon 


218  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Aggies  and  all-Northwestern  tackle  and  halfback;  Captain 
Thorpe,  right  guard,  Stanford  University  athlete,  star  at 
both  Rugby  and  American,  before  entering  Stanford 
played  on  Belmont  Military  Academy;  Lieutenant  Russell, 
center,  University  of  California,  center  at  Berkeley  for 
the  last  three  years,  played  against  U.  of  W.,  in  Seattle 
both  last  year  and  the  year  before;  Lieutenant  Morse, 
left  guard,  learned  the  game  in  Southern  California: 
Captain  Worsham,  left  tackle,  played  at  Purdue,  a  re- 
markable all-round  athlete  and  one  of  the  best  boxers 
in  the  United  States  Army;  Lieutenant  Card,  left  end,  is 
new  to  the  American  game,  but  is  rated  as  the  greatest 
Rugby  player  ever  produced  in  America;  Lieutenant  Kap- 
ple  quarterback  last  year  for  Utah  Agricultural  College; 
Lieutenant  McLean,  fullback,  hails  from  McGill  University, 
Montreal,  Canada;  Lieutenant  Bell  never  played  college 
football,  but  was  picked  last  year  as  all-California  inter- 
scholastic  halfback;  Lieutenant  Hutchinson  Stanford  Uni- 
versity man,  and  in  addition  to  being  a  football  player  is 
one  of  the  best  of  the  younger  set  of  tennis  players  in 
California." 


The  result,  you  thousands  of  "rooters"  remember, 
justified  the  claims  of  both  to  all-star  teams,  for  the  two 
constellations,  in  a  draw,  maintained  the  center  of  gravity, 
the  only  gravity  that  was  maintained. 

Second  only  in  efficiency  in  command  of  the  362nd, 
stands  Lt.  Col.  W.  H.  Jordan.  As  above  seen,  he  was 
prominent  in  its  athletics  and,  indeed,  in  Division  athletics. 
Had  army  regulations  not  forbidden,  the  Camp  Field  would 
have  been  named  for  him. 

From  sheer  ability  he  has  rapidly  advanced  since  en- 
listing as  a  private  in  the  Oregon  Volunteers  for  the 
Spanish  American  War.  In  the  Philippines  he  was  ap- 
pointed First-Lieutenant  of  the  18th  Infantry,  1898,  pro- 
moted to  a  Captaincy  in  the  12th,  1904.  Then  he  served 
in  the  Quartermaster  Corps  and  later  was  Adjutant  of 
the  14th  for  three  years  at  Fort  Lawton.  In  1916  he 
was  ordered  to  the  Border  and  then  to  the  Presidio,  where 
he  was  Instructor  of  the  First  Officers  Training  Camp. 
Last  Summer  he  was  appointed  Major  and  a  few  weeks 
later  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  ordered  to  Camp  Lewis. 


LIEUT.-COL.   JORDAN 


220  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Under  him  in  the  newly  organized  regiment  were  a  num- 
ber of  young  officers  from  his  classes  in  the  Presidio  so 
training  just  naturally  went  on  from  there.  The  regi- 
ment had  counted  upon  his  going  to  France  with  it  and 
was  disappointed,  though  congratulatory,  when  just  as 
the  Division  moved  out,  he  was  moved  on,  to  Fort  Douglas, 
Utah,  promoted  to  Colonel  of  the  20th  Infantry. 

As  Range  Officer,  Lt.  Col.  Jordan  distinguished  him- 
self. He  it  was  who  contrived  a  system  of  lights  which 
made  night  firing  practical,  valuable  training,  since  modern 
warfare  knows  no  rest.  He  also  worked  out  the  B-range 
system,  completed  just  before  the  Division  went  out. 

Over  in  the  woods  where  the  sun-flecks  play  and  the 
birds  sing,  rookies  begin  rifle  practice  without  firing  a 
shot.  It  is  an  odd  sight,  a  man  in  denim  balancing  a 
gun  on  a  stump  covered  with  a  gunny  sack  and  aiming 
at  a  sheet  of  white  paper  tacked  to  a  tree  where  stands 
his  second.  As  he  sights  the  silent  rifle  he  calls,  "Quarter 
inch  left  and  eighth  inch  lower."  When  the  targetman  has 
located  the  spot  sighted,  he  prick's  the  paper.  If  the  man 
succeeds  in  sighting  three  holes  within  a  half  inch  tri- 
angle, he  is  allowed  to  shoulder  his  rifle  and  join  men 
firing  cartridges,  before  long  paper  targets. 

The  practice  fire  progresses  regularly.  He  may  make 
a  Marksman's  record  of  202  points  entitling  him  to  a 
badge  and  two  dollars  a  month,  or  a  Sharpshooter's  238 
points  and  three  dollars  monthly,  or  a  Rifleman's  263  and 
five  dollars  increase  in  pay.  He  may  gain  the  same  by 
pistol  shooting.  Of  course  it  is  all  done  in  a  prescribed 
manner,  at  specified  ranges  and  at  qualifying  Meets. 
Advanced  work  is  done  on  the  rifle  range  where  companies 
spend  two  weeks  at  a  time.  Finally  night  firing  is  in 
order.  Camp  Lewis  is  said  to  be  the  first  at  which  it 
was  attempted.  Lacking  confidence,  even  good  shots  are 
awkward  at  first  in  the  dark,  but  rapidly  acquire  skill. 
Lt.  Col.  Jordan  is  to  be  credited  with  the  working  out 
of  this  innovation  here.  He  arranged  targets  illumined 
from  below  by  electric  lights  at  one  hundred  yards,  then 
the  range  was  doubled,  and  the  targets  shown  intermit- 


CAMP  LEWIS  221 

tently  as  if  by  star  shells.  This  intensive  practice  produces 
results  really  wonderfully  when  one  considers  that  many 
of  the  men  never  before  shot  a  gun.  One  of  the  camp 
papers  said  that  ' 'Lieut.  Regnier  even  coaxed  a  high  score 
from  Private  Jim  Tong  Mow  who  at  first  insisted  he 
could  not  shoot  well  in  English." 

Shortly  before  leaving  Camp  Lewis,  the  91st  Division 
was  drilled  in  the  last  phase  of  rifle  fire  upon  Range-B 
which  had  been  recently  completed.  Hitherto,  targets  had 
been  stationary  and  at  known  range,  but  here,  hidden  in 
unsuspected  places  are  targets  operated  by  a  man  con- 
cealed within  a  protected  pit,  wherein  is  a  wire  connected 
with  a  buzzer  in  the  Range  office.  When  the  American 
scouting  parties  are  afield,  these  German  targets  suddenly 
appear,  and  the  soldiers  "pot  them".  It  is  the  newest  in 
instant  adaptation  of  firing  to  distance,  direction  of  wind 
and  height.  Instruction  in  these  modifications  and  the 
curve  of  a  bullet  have  preceded  the  last  stage.  Results 
have  been  unexpectedly  good,  say  officers.  Lt.  Col.  Jordan's 
innovations  upon  Rifle  Ranges  A  and  B  have  been  most 
valuable  in  the  training.  His  two  assistant  Range  Of- 
ficers were  ordered  back  to  their  regiments  and  went  to 
France.  First-Lieutenant  Turnbull  of  the  362nd  was  a 
Boer  War  Veteran  whose  experience  in  South  Africa, 
where  men  all  but  grew  to  their  rifles,  was  a  gain.  The 
other  assistant  was  Lieut.  Charles  S.  Greely  of  the  363rd. 

Col.  Jordan  is  scarcely  a  man  one  associates  with  Valen- 
tine's Day,  yet  he  was  almost  the  only  officer  in  the  regi- 
ment to  be  remembered  February  14.  His  subordinates 
would  give  a  hat  to  learn  what  admirer  placed  that  huge 
red  heart-box,  surmounted  by  a  still  larger  red  satin  bow, 
which  refused  to  be  hidden  by  the  tissue  paper  wrappings, 
upon  his  desk.  One  thing  is  certain,  she  is  original,  for, 
of  all  sweetmeats !  The  rustling  paper  sounding  Reveille, 
and  covers  thrown  back,  up  rose  the  biggest  crab  ever 
drawn  by  Marines,  and  as  snappish  as  crabs,  human  or 
Dungeness,  are  apt  to  be  when  kept  waiting  for  breakfast. 
Odd,  but  artistic,  and  Japanesey  and — why  that's  it — Nip 
ponese  for  "Be  My  Valentine"! 


222 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


LA 


LIEUT.   GUIBERT 


To  many  it  seemed  strange  that  foreign  instructors 
should  be  necessary  in  a  branch  always  notable  among 
Americans,  but  training  in  tactics  is  different  abroad,  and 
unity  desirable.  So  Lieut.  R.  Guibert  and  Sergt.  Mirat, 
experts  with  the  automatic  rifle  were  detailed  for  in- 
structors. 

Another  Spanish  war  veteran,  volunteer,  is  Capt. 
Arthur  Bradbury,  Adjutant  of  the  regiment.  He  served 
in  the  Philippines  as  Aid  to  Maj:  Gen.  Otis  at  the  same 
time  that  Col.  Whitworth  was  Aid  to  Gen.  McArthur,  both 
being  Lieutenants.  Bradbury  was  Adjutant  of  the  State 
of  California  under  two  governors  and  attended  the  First 
Officers  Camp  at  The  Presidio.  His  assignment  to  the 
362nd  brought  him  under  his  friend,  its  Colonel.  Brad- 
bury is  an  old  name  in  this  Country  but,  on  the  spinning 
side,  Tayler's  an  older.  If  you  spell  it  with  an  e  it  was 
a  Mayflower  name. 

To  return  to  athletics:  Our  national  game,  baseball, 
is  not  only  a  favorite  with  the  ranks  but  favored  by  the 


CAMP   LEWIS  223 

officers  because  of  its  skill,  transmitted  to  grenade  throw- 
ing, running,  quick  decision.  To  women  visiting  camp 
it  is  constant  wonder  that  after  hours  of  drill,  men  will 
rush  their  meals  for  baseball.  This  is  nothing  new,  how- 
ever, for  the  Odyssey  says  of  Greek  warriors,  "They  took 
their  midday  meal  upon  the  river's  bank  and  ajion  when 
satisfied  with  food  they  played  a  game  of  ball." 

Every  unit  has  its  team.  The  362nd  has  a  Twilight 
League  and  the  Camp  Official  Baseball  scorer,  J.  E.  Welch, 
who  scores  for  the  Division  Team,  for  the  Inter-Division 
American  and  National  League,  and  for  over  twenty-nine 
within  them. 

He  should  be  up  in  logarithms,  though  I  have  no  idea 
what  they  are  and  am  secretly  gratified  that  I  can  spell 
the  word,  off  hand.  Twould  seem  that  baseball  players 
have  rushed  to  the  battlefield  as  to  an  athletics  field,  and 
indeed  baseball  demands  much  the  same  strength,  speed, 
skill,  self  control.  Another  Big  League  player,  Capt. 
"Jim"  Scott,  famous  pitcher  for  the  White  Sox,  gained 
his  commission  in  the  Second  Officers  Training  Camp  and 
was  assigned  to  the  Officers  Training  Camp  at  Camp 
Lewis.  He  organized  baseball  matches  for  Wednesday  and 
Saturday,  relieving  the  strenuous  studies  with  recreation 
which  was  continued  physical  exercise. 

The  362nd  also  boasts  a  man  from  a  "family  all  in," 
Sergeant  Alex  J.  Wilson,  whose  four  brothers  are  in  the 
service,  whose  father  resigned  his  position  as  forest  super- 
visor to  stump  for  the  Canadian  draft  law,  and  whose  only 
sister  is  a  Red  Cross  worker.  Two  of  the  brothers  fought 
at  Vilmy  Ridge,  where  one  was  killed  and  the  other  was 
unaware  of  it  until  letters  from  home  informed  him. 

The  Chaplain  of  this  regiment  lost  no  time  in  entering 
the  war.  Not  waiting  for  an  appointment,  he  enlisted 
in  the  regular  army  at  once,  but  was  transferred  to  the 
National  army  at  Camp  Dodge.  Private  F.  W.  Hagan 
was  soon  Corporal  Hagan.  He  was  next  ordained  a  Con- 
gregationalist  minister,  finally  appointed  Chaplain  Lieu- 
tenant and  ordered  to  Camp  Lewis. 


224  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Shortly  before  the  91st  Division  left  Camp  Lewis,  Gen. 
Styer  was  ordered  to  Manila  and  Brig.  Gen.  John  B.  Mc- 
Donald assumed  command  of  the  181st  Infantry  Brigade. 
He  is  another  Southerner,  born  in  Alabama,  and  graduated 
from  the  United  States  Military  Academy  in  1881,  a  man 
whose  experience,  ability  and  bravery  appear  in  the  bare 
details  of  his  career. 

Assigned  to  25th  Infantry  and  transferred  to  10th 
Cavalry  1882.  Adjutant  Quartermaster  and  Commissary 
Fort  Stockton,  Texas  1883-4. 

Acting  Regimental  Adjutant  on  march  from  Texas  to 
Arizona,  April-May  1885. 

Commanding  company  of  Apache  Indian  Scouts  1885- 
87;  Geronimo  Campaign. 

Provost  Officer,  Apache  Indian  Reservation,  Arizona, 
1885-87;  Acting  Indian  Agent  temporarily  1886. 

Commandant  of  Cadets  and  Professor  Military  Science 
and  Tactics,  Alabama  Polytechnic  Institute  1888-91. 

Regimental  Quartermaster  10th  Cavalry  1892-96.  Com- 
manding Troop  "F"  10th  Cavalry  1896-97. 

Commandant  of  Cadets  and  Professor  Military  Science 
and  Tactics,  South  Carolina  Military  Academy,  The  Citadel, 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  1897-98. 

Lieut.  Col.  1st  Alabama  Volunteer  Infantry  in  Spanish- 
American  War  1898.  Chief  Mustering  officer  for  Ala- 
bama, November  1898. 

Captain  3d  Cavalry  1898,  commanding  Troop  "I"  in 
Philippine  Islands  1900.  Desperately  wounded  through 
right  lung  in  action  in  Northern  Luzon  1901.  Recom- 
mended for  brevet  Major  for  gallantry  in  this  action  for 
continuing  in  sole  command  till  victory  was  won,  and  not 
permitting  his  men  to  know  of  his  wound  until  the  action 
ended. 

Light  duty  on  account  of  wounds,  as  Quartermaster, 
General  Hospital,  Washington  Barracks,  D.  C.  1901-2. 


CAMP  LEWIS  225 

Regimental  Quartermaster,  Constructing  Quarter- 
master, General  Hospital,  Washington  Barracks,  D.  C. 
1901-2. 

Regimental  Quartermaster,  Constructing  Quarter- 
master, and  Quartermaster  by  detail  installing  water, 
sewer  and  heating  systems  and  alterations  of  all  buildings 
at  Fort  Assinniboine,  Montana,  1902-06. 

Quartermaster  U.  S.  Military  Prison,  Fort  Leaven- 
worth,  Kan.,  1906-07. 

Major  15th  Cavalry,  Commanding  Fort  Ethan  Allen, 
Vt.,  1907-08.  Major  commanding  Separate  Squadron  and 
Machine  Gun  Troop  15th  Cavalry,  1909. 

Army  War  College,  Washington,  D.  C.  1912-13. 

Inspector  General  by  detail  and  Department  Inspector, 
Hawaiian  Department  1914-15. 

Assistant  Department  Inspector,  Philippine  Depart- 
ment, Manila,  P.  I.,  1915-16. 

Colonel,  Cavalry,  Inspector  General,  Inspector  Western 
Department,  1916-17. 

When  wounded  and  apparently  dying,  Capt.  McDonald 
was  carried  for  fifteen  miles  on  a  stretcher  over  a  rough 
mountain  road  to  the  post.  His  superior,  Maj.  Kingsbury, 
and  Maj.  Gen.  J.  Franklin  Bell  both  sent  letters  of  sym- 
pathy and  congratulation.  At  that  time  neither  Bell  nor 
McDonald  anticipated  a  world  war  for  which  the  United 
States  would  raise  a  great  army  housed  in  a  huge  canton- 
ment and  to  which  that  "dying"  man  should  come  in  com- 
mand of  a  Brigade.  Nor  even  a  little  over  a  year  ago 
did  such  a  thing  presage  when  Col.  McDonald  came  to 
Tacoma  to  inspect  Troop  B,  Cavalry  no  longer,  now  serv- 
ing under  Gen.  Liggitt  in  France.  Gen.  McDonald  was 
on  the  Border  as  Inspector  of  Cavalry  more  than  thirty 
years  after  he  had  ridden  that  very  region  in  pursuit  of 
Geronimo  and  his  murderous  Apaches,  whose  name  was 
synonymous  with  fiendishness  until  superseded  by  Hun.  Ger- 
onimo, the  last  Indian  Chief  to  rebel,  was  the  Jast  of  the 
old  to  die,  at  Fort  Sill,  Oklahoma,  several  years  ago. 

§  16 


226  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

With  his  Aids,  Lieut.  Earl  F.  Knoob  of  the  83rd  Field 
Artillery,  a  West  Pointer,  and  Lieut.  M.  B.  Tayler  of  In- 
fantry Reserves,  Brig.  Gen.  McDonald  went  out  with  the 
Division  the  end  of  June.  Apache  fighters  will  feel  at 
home  against  Prussians. 


CAMP  LEWIS  227 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

MACHINE  GUNS  CONNECTING  LINK  BETWEEN  INFANTRY  AND 
ARTILLERY — THE  AMERICAN  BROWNING — A  NEW  HEART 
SPECIFIC — A  GIFT  TO  THE  NEXT  DIVISION — A  FIRST  AND 
LAST  COMMUNION. 

The  make  up  of  a  modern  army  is  so  different,  arms 
and  armers,  from  the  old,  changed  even  since  the  United 
States  entered  the  arena,  that  it  is  confusing.  Take  ma- 
chine guns,  not  artillery  nor  rightly  infantry,  though  a 
company  of  machine  gunners  is  attached  to  each  infantry 
regiment,  beside  which  there  is  a  Division  Battalion.  Al- 
though used  before  this  war,  machine  guns  were  few  and 
of  comparatively  small  importance  compared  with  those 
which  work  such  terrific  havoc  today.  Until  lately  our 
troops  have  been  drilling  with  various  makes,  principally 
the  Lewis,  even  using  British  and  French,  though  prac- 
tically all  these  and  similar  ordnance  were  the  invention 
of  Americans,  or  rather  an  American,  John  M.  Browning. 
The  government  was  awaiting  an  improvement  upon  them 
all  before  manufacturing  to  supply  our  entire  army.  The 
query  was  common,"  Why  experiment  with  another  when 
all  these  are  proved  and  produced?"  But  the  forthcoming 
Browning  was  not  experiment. 

Many  years  ago,  a  boy  living  in  Ogden,  Utah,  fond 
of  hunting  the  big  game  so  plentiful  thereabouts,  chafed 
at  stopping  in  the  midst  of  an  exciting  chase  to  reload 
his  gun  after  every  discharge  and  invented  a  repeater. 
He  has  been  inventing  and  improving  firearms  ever  since, 
but  caring  nothing  for  name  and  fame,  has  allowed  any 
firm  for  whom  he  designed  at  the  time,  to  take  the  glory. 
The  Colt  pistol,  used  for  many  years  in  our  army,  is  his. 
Belgium,  Russia,  Spain,  Serbia,  all  had  Brownings  pistols 
as  standard  equipment  before  this  war  began.  It  is  said 


228  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

one  of  them  afforded  pretext  for  this  very  cataclysm  when 
a  Serbian  student  fired  a  Browning  revolver  at  an  Austrian 
Archduke,  killing  the  first  of  the  millions.  It  was  Brown- 
ing's machine  guns  which  saved  the  legations  in  the  Boxer 
Rebellion,  and  they  will  act  a  leading  part  in  the  tragic 
end  of  Kaiser  Wilhelm  who,  by  the  way,  once  decorated 
Mr.  Browning.  So,  coincidentally  did  King  Albert  who, 
when  the  millionth  Browning  pistol  was  manufactured  in 
Belgium,  created  its  inventor  Chevalier  of  the  Order  of 
Leopold,  so  that  he  is  Sir  John,  though  he  will  never  own 
to  it.  Still,  a  Knight  of  Ordnance  is  more  appropriate 
than  of  tea  and  such — Maxim,  Sir  Hiram,  is  another 
Ordnance  Knight.  Nobody  will  wager  which  decoration 
the  American  prizes. 

The  rapid  fire  rifle  is  the  climax  in  purely  infantry 
arms,  and  renders  the  foot  soldier  a  walking  magazine, 
for  it  can  be  shot  from  the  shoulder  and  weighs  but  fifteen 
pounds,  only  a  little  over  five  more  than  an  ordinary 
rifle.  It  has  an  improvement,  in  that  it  can  be  fired  by 
trigger  in  separate  shots  or  discharged  automatically,  in 
which  case  it  shoots  twenty  rounds  in  two  seconds.  By 
pressing  a  button  the  magazine  slips  out  and  another  can 
be  instantly  inserted.  This  gun  is  air  cooled.  It  is  the 
polished  descendant,  so  to  speak,  of  that  pioneer  repeater 
which  the  young  Browning  made  by  hand  nearly  forty 
years  ago,  when  he  turned  the  larger  parts  upon  his 
father's  lathe  and  hammered  and  chiseled  the  smaller. 
Repeater!  Let  us  hope  that  the  sharp  repetition  of  its 
death  message  may  soon  be  translated  from  the  German 
Straf  into  English  Peace. 

The  nearest  approach  to  it  was  the  French  Chauchat 
which  weighs  nearly  twenty  pounds  and  fires  but  one- 
hundred  fifty  shots  a  minute.  These  automatics  are  car- 
ried by  tall  sturdy  men  after  the  machine  gun  barrage 
and  before  the  riflemen  come  up,  as  they  decimate  the 
enemy  with  their  rapid  fire.  A  section  of  automatic  rifle- 
men is  part  of  every  rifle  company  now. 

As  automatic  rifles  are  go-betweens  for  rifle  and  ma- 
chine guns,  the  latter  connect  with  artillery.  At  Camp 


CAMP   LEWIS  229 

Lewis,  a  number  have  been  in  use,  but  principally  the 
Lewis,  with  a  record  of  five  hundred  rounds  before  cool- 
ing, though  it  had  an  air  chamber.  The  new  Browning, 
for  which  we  waited,  fires  six-hundred  shots  a  minute 
for  any  length  of  time,  as  it  is  cooled  by  water  in  a 
jacket  which  condenses  from  its  steam,  and  it  does  not 
"kick"  even  when  called  upon  to  such  speed.  Major  Her- 
ring had  one  of  all  kinds  of  machine  guns  in  his  office 
and  was  most  interesting  in  pointing  out  their  differences. 
The  new  Browning  machine  gun,  which  has  been  adopted 
by  the  War  Department  weighs,  including  water  jacket, 
but  thirty-four  and  a  half  pounds.  When  used  in  an 
airplane  where  atmospheric  conditions  prevent  the  gun's 
overheating,  the  water  jacket  is  detached  so  that  the 
weight  is  but  twenty-two  pounds.  It  rests  upon  a  low 
tripod  from  which  it  is  easily  removed.  In  fact  it  is  the 
simplest  of  all  machine  guns  as  well  as  the  most  terrible. 
An  ordnance  worker  can  assemble  three  Brownings  to  one 
of  any  other  make,  and  gunners  can  quickly  take  it  entire- 
ly apart  and  replace  any  part  necessary. 

Think  of  the  ammunition  required  for  such  rapid  fire! 
A  recent  government  report  states  that  the  greatest  out- 
put for  one  day  was  27,000,000  cartridges  for  rifles  and 
pistols.  But  they  were  needed,  for  the  report  adds  that 
the  daily  output  of  rifles  for  a  week  in  June,  averaged 
10,142.  So  that  the  United  States  has  again  demonstrated 
that  when  it  is  "good  and  ready,  Something's  bound  to 
happen":  55,794  rifles  in  one  week,  beside  thousands  of 
extra  parts  for  them,  think  of  it!  That  is  a  special  train- 
ing in  this  war,  the  repair  of  everything,  from  a  motor 
truck  to  a  rifle,  which  the  soldiers  are  being  taught. 

No  wonder  that,  as  Capt.  Emmet  Colpin  insisted,  ma- 
chine gun  companies  are  specialists,  every  man  of  them — 
this  in  reply  to  my  ignorant  remark  that  it  seemed  easy 
to  fire  an  automatic,  especially  as  officers  computed  range 
and  elevation,  a  tender  brought  ammunition  and  cleared 
away  empty  shells,  the  gun  neither  heated  nor  kicked,  did 
not  even  make  much  noise,  for  machine  guns'  pup-pup-pup 
is  little  longer  than  the  popping  of  bushels  of  com. 


230  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Capt.  Colpin  has  had  experience  with  them  on  the  Mexi- 
can Border  but  says  the  work  is  very  different  from  that 
of  two  years  ago,  and  growing  more  intensive  all  the 
time.  He  has  been  in  the  regular  army  for  fifteen  years, 
and  has  seen  machine  guns  grow  in  importance. 

In  the  first  place,  all  the  company  must  be  expert  in 
signalling,  as  orders  for  firing  and  cessation,  change  of 
base  or  range  or  direction,  information  as  to  location  of 
the  enemy  etc.,  are  signalled  from  various  vantages  and 
in  any  manner  most  convenient.  Then,  too,  though  com- 
putations of  range,  elevation  etc.,  resultant  from  these 
directions  are  supposed  to  be  supplied  by  officers  in  charge 
of  machine  guns,  the  men  must  be  able  to  take  their 
places  in  case  of  casualties,  while  many  things  like  wind, 
the  tendency  of  the  gun  to  rise  a  trifle,  enter  into  the 
problem.  I  remember  seeing  a  young  fellow  out  on  the 
range  alone  after  the  company  had  completed  practice, 
working  away  with  his  machine  gun  attempting  "to  see 
if  I  can't  get  her  to  stop  changing  her  mind  about  where 
she  means  to  strike.  I've  taken  her  to  pieces  a  dozen 
times."  and  he  did  it  again.  A  gun  isn't  a  her  any  way, 
and  a  she  doesn't  change  her  mind  any  oftener  than  a 
he,  either.  The  targets  were  of  paper  marked  in  small 
squares  and  stretched  along  a  wall  of  logs  high  enough  to 
prevent  bullets  over-reaching.  From  all  this  you  con- 
clude machine  gun  companies  must  be  of  men  who  can 
think,  and  think  quickly,  acting  likewise.  They  are  re- 
quired to  be  in  perfect  physical  condition,  long  on  nervs 
and  short  on  nerves,  and  to  possess  at  least  a  grammar 
school  education.  They  learn  to  take  their  guns  entirely 
apart  very  rapidly  in  blackest  night,  to  supply  a  part, 
every  one  of  which  is  named,  and  reassemble  them,  by 
working  blindfolded  in  training. 

In  battle,  each  machine  gun  is  served  by  eight  men. 
One,  in  a  slight  depression,  sits  with  his  finger  on  the 
trigger,  one  watches  the  long  belt  with  its  250  rounds 
of  cartridges,  woven-white  the  width  of  any  ordinary 
cartridge  belt.  There  are  272  of  these  belts  to  a  load, 
which  is  constantly  brought  by  ammunition  carriers. 


CAMP  LEWIS  231 

Mule  carts  are  usually  employed  to  bring  loads  from  the 
base  at  the  rear.  Tripods  are  first  set  up  and  adjusted 
to  the  direction,  then  the  barrels  bolted  on,  sighting  being 
by  means  of  a  graduated  white  stick  placed  a  short  dist- 
ance before  the  gun.  The  fire  is  automatic,  capable  of 
600  shots  a  minute  which  spread  like  a  fan,  winnowing 
souls  into  eternity.  This  spread  is  known,  so  that  ma- 
chine guns  are  placed  at  proper  distances  to  produce  a 
continuous  leaden  hail.  This  is  called  a  barrage,  a  bullet 
barrier,  behind  which  the  infantry  advance  and  before 
which  the  enemy  fall  in  heaps. 

Maj.  F.  C.  Endicott  is  commanding  officer  of  the  346th 
Machine  Gun  Battalion  at  Camp  Lewis  for  the  91st  Divis- 
ion, a  regular  army  man  who  rose  from  the  ranks.  Two 
of  the  346th  companies  are  motor.  Maj.  W.  W.  Hanson 
commands  the  347th  and  Maj.  Gimperling  the  348th. 

Of  the  latter  is  Capt.  William  Aird  of  the  regulars, 
who  served  in  Cuba,  the  Philippines,  Mexico,  and  in  the 
Boer  war.  Lieuts.  Allan  Duncan  and  Turnbull  are  also 
entitled  to  that  service  ribbon  though  they  may  not  wear 
it  upon  United  States  uniforms.  Capt.  Aird's  brother 
George,  fired  the  first  shot  at  a  submarine  in  the  Fall 
of  1917.  Our  Capt.  Aird  claims  record  time  for  the  175 
Californians  in  his  Machine  Gun  company  in  rising, 
dressing,  packing,  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  for  the 
trenches,  to  entrain  for  the  East,  or  to  ship  for  France. 

The  346th  Machine  Gun  Company  wants  it  distinctly 
understood  that  all  organizations  must  demonstrate  run- 
ning endurance  toward  the  end  of  their  training.  Not  that 
they  have  the  slightest  intention  of  doing  any  running 
Over  There,  but  simply  to  prove  they  are  the  "huskiest 
bunch"  here,  ninety-five  per  cent  of  them  stood  the  test 
of  six  miles  running  pack-a-back.  They  insist  that  it 
proves  nothing  except  that  all  but  five  percent  are  stout 
hearted  and  the  rest  must  match  up  or  they  won't  take 
them  along. 

Of  the  British  officers  who  were  sent  by  their  govern- 
ment to  assist  in  the  training  of  our  troops  in  the  can- 
tonments during  the  first  year  of  our  entrance  into  the 


232  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CAPT.   A.  S.   FOSKETT 

great  war,  Capt.  A.  S.  Foskett  was  stationed  at  Camp 
Lewis  as  instructor  in  Machine  Gun  work,  and  Serg.  II. 
J.  Ross,  who  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Loos,  was 
another. 

Speaking  of  Machine  Gun  men,  and  hearts  and  Maj. 
Endicott,  reminds  me.  of  too  good  a  story  to  be  selfish 

with.  V ,  an  old  army  man  who  had  lately  seen 

service  on  the  Border,  was  ordered  to  report  at  Base 
Hospital  for  an  operation.  It  was  early  in  the  Fall  when 
wards  were  crowded  and  beds  at  a  premium.  On  time 
to  the  minute,  only  to  be  informed  that  the  bed  destined 
for  him  was  still  occupied  by  a  man  whom  the  doctor 

had  predicted  could  not  possibly  live  till  morning,  V 

approached  and  looked  keenly  at  the  patient.  "Heart 
disease,"  whispered  the  orderly,  "return  in  an  hour." 

In  an  hour  he  was  back  and,  bending  over  the  man 
said,  "Haven't  you  cashed  in  yet?  Don't  you  know  that 
bed's  for  me?  I'll  give  you  two  hours."  The  stricken  man 


CAMP  LEWIS  233 

seemed    scarcely   to    understand.      At   one    o'clock    V 

leaned  over  him,  "Looky  here:  this  is  all  well  enough  for 
you,  you've  nothing  to  do  but  die,  but  I'm  a  busy  man. 
You've  got  to  pass  or  ante.  Don't  you  let  me  find  you 

next  time  I  come."     It  is  only  just  to  explain  that  V 

says  he  had  seen  that  form  of  heart-disease  before,  and 
had  the  case  diagnosed  as  liver  trouble,  white  liver. 

About  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  V — : —  appeared 
again  and  the  patient  had  rallied  enough  to  be  hurt.  "Now 
this  is  going  too  far.  You've  either  got  to  shoot  or  give 
up  the  gun.  I  tell  you  I  want  that  bed,  and  if  I  find 
you  in  it  next  time  I  come  you'll  do  your  dying  out  on 
the  mat,  and  that's  straight."  He  stalked  off  and  the 
occupant  of  the  disputed  bed  waxed  indignant  and  rallied 

round  the  flag  of  rebellion.     Noting  which,  V upon 

his  last  appearance  for  day  said,  "Well,  it's  too  late  for 
my  operation  today,  so  I'll  let  you  stay  overnight,  and", 
he  added  in  a  kindly  tone,  "this  camp  ain't  half  bad,  and 
seeing  you  don't  know  what  you'll  be  in  for  if  you  croak, 
why  not  get  well?"  which  my  informant  said  was  just 
what  he  did  do,  "was  fair  kidded  out  of  dying,  which  he 
really  would  have  done." 

And  what  had  Maj.  Endicott  to  do  with  it?  Well  V— 
had  his  operation  and  decided  a  furlough  would  cheer 
him,  but  the  Major  would  not  consider  it,  whereupon  V — 
advised  the  relater  to  watch  his  smoke.  He  went  to  the 
hospital  for  change  of  dressings  every  day.  Just  before 
entering  next  time  he  blew  his  nose  with  great  violence 
starting  a  slight  hemmorrhage  and  told  the  medic  he 
was  constantly  troubled  by  that,  thought  that  it  was 
complete  rest  he  needed  to  recuperate.  And  he  obtained 
that  furlough. 

In  the  Division  April  Meet,  one  of  the  Machine  Gun 
Battalions  won  a  contest  more  amusing  to  onlookers  than 
to  contestants.  Everything  at  camp  follows  bugle-calls 
which,  as  one  of  the  officers  expressed  it,  are  apt  to  be 
caught  with  frog-in-the-throat.  Probably  that  is  why  the 
competition  was  arranged.  "Even  my  bugle  is  hoarse," 
grumbled  a  Californian — Californians  did  considerable 


234  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

grumbling  at  first  and  sung  their  State  song  until,  as 
one  of  their  chaplains  remarked,  they  quit  being  Cali- 
fornians  and  turned  into  soldiers.  In  this  bugle  contest, 
W.  H.  Maitland,  of  the  Machine  Guns  was  adjudged  best 
bugler,  and  A.  R.  Handley,  362nd  Infantry,  second. 

At  the  Remount  exhibition  in  June,  in  the  single  mule 
and  machine  gun  entry  for  equipment  and  efficiency, 
the  Machine  Gun  Company  of  the  362nd  Infantry  took 
the  Loving  Cup,  leaving  second  place  to  Company  D, 
Machine  Gun  Battalion.  However,  Company  D  won 
the  Loving  Cup  in  the  second  part  of  the  exhibit,  for 
time  and  action,  allowing  the  second  prize  to  Company 
E  and  third  to  A,  both  of  their  Battalion.  The  348th 
won  first  in  the  four-mule  team  and  escorting  wagon, 
leaving  second  to  the  362nd  Infantry  Machine-Gunners. 

Understand  that  in  every  Infantry  Regiment  at  Head- 
quarters Company  there  are  seven  sections:  staff,  order- 
lies, and  band;  a  medical  detachment;  a  supply  company; 
a  signal  platoon  with  telephone  section  at  Headquarters 
and  at  each  battalion ;  the  pioneer,  which  does  the  engineer- 
ing for  its  regiment,  and  the  gun  section,  operating  one 
one-pounder  and  so  connecting,  as  does  the  machine  gun 
company  just  described,  the  infantry  work  with  the  artil- 
lery; and  lastly,  the  sappers  and  bombers  section.  The 
former  mine  and  undermine.  The  government  and  work- 
ings of  a  modern  army  are  very  much  like  those  of  the 
Federal,  State,  City  and  Ward,  with  Headquarters  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  for  both. 

Bombers  call  themselves  the  Suicide  Club,  but  the 
Artillerists  call  them  Mothers'  Darlings,  Fair  Weathers, 
and  the  like,  because  they  must  wait  till  the  big  guns 
have  cleared  them  a  way.  Headquarters  Company  of  the 
361st  congratulates  itself  that  the  Suicide  Club  has  not 
developed  into  a  Murder  Club,  since  A's  eternal  singing 
of  one  idiotic  song  has  incited  every  man  to  choking  the 
words  in  his  tuneless  throat.  Not  liking  to  kill  one  of 
their  own  mess,  however,  the  bombers  offered  to  extend  the 
attention  to  his  teacher,  only  to  find  it  was  the  dear  but 
misguided  Lady  of  Hostess  House.  So  he  sings  on,  but  the 


CAMP  LEWIS  235 

bombers  "hope  for  the  best  when  he  goes  over  the  top." 
In  case  Headquarters  Company  could  ever  forget  the 
words,  here  they  are: 

"I'm  a  little  prairie  flower, 

Growing  ivilder  every  hour, 

Nobody  ever  cultivates  me,  I'm  wild,  I'm  wild." 

his  company  say  they're  the  ones  to  be  wild,  and  they 
are  wild. 

The  Battalions,  346th,  347th  and  348th  willed  the 
handsome  new  assembly  hall,  just  completed  before  they 
left  Camp  Lewis,  to  their  successors.  It  has  a  great 
fireplace  by  which  they  may  dream  of  home  when  rains 
begin,  and  a  porch,  its  latest  addition,  upon  which  to  greet 
friends,  for  men  at  camp  have  learned  that  home  women 
knew,  after  all,  what  was  homiest,  and  when  they  go 
back,  men  and  women  will  be  closer  together,  see  if  they 
are  not.  The  Machine  Gunner's  hall  is  the  aristocrat  in 
the  way  of  chairs,  having  the  only  leather  upholstered 
furniture  of  which  the  Ninety-First  boasted.  Their  chap- 
lain, Lieut.  John  W.  Beard,  did  much  toward  this  assembly 
hall.  Until  Lieut.  Reed  B.  Cherrington  was  appointed 
chaplain  of  the  348th  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  just  before 
the  Division  went  out,  Chaplain  Beard  served  all  three 
Battalions.  He  was  one  of  the  later  appointments  at 
camp,  coming  from  Hoquiam,  where  he  was  known  as  the 
Lumber-jacks  Sky  Pilot.  Soon  after  his  arrival,  the  boys 
thought  they  would  like  to  see  the  parson  ride,  and  inti- 
mated to  the  Remount  that  a  horse  filled  with  the  spirit 
would  be  appropriate.  The  boys  happened  around  to  see 
the  fun,  not  knowing  that  he  had  spent  many  a  month 
in  lumber  camps.  Well,  there  wasn't  any  fun.  The 
Lieutenant  mounted,  the  horse  knew  in  a  moment  that 
he  was  mastered  and  a  spotted  rocking  horse  was  not 
milder. 

It  was  Chaplain  Beard  who  conducted  the  first  com- 
munion of  many  denominations,  held  at  Y-3  just  before 
the  Division  left.  Secretaries  from  the  different  Huts 


236  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


who  were  ordained  ministers  assisted,  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  Tacoma,  loaned  the  communion  vessels  and 
over  eighty  communicants  gathered  who  will  never  again 
sit  down  together  in  this  world. 


CAMP  LEWIS  237 


CHAPTER   XV 

NEW  IMPORTANCE  OF  ARTILLERY — ITS  YOUTH — TWO  BRIG- 
ADIER-GENERALS BURR — ARMY  WOMEN'S  SERVICE — MO- 
TORIZING ARTILLERY — ITS  RANGE  AT  CAMP  LEWIS  AND 
THE  FIRST  CANNON  THERE — FIRST  ARTILLERY  CO.  IN 

U.   S. — LIEUT.   GAMBIER COL.   PRATT — MAJ.    GAY    AND 

PRVT.  WILHOIT  FOUGHT  IN  FRANCE — MAJ.  JAMISON — 
WANTED,  A  HATING  CUP — LIGHTS  AT  HEADQUARTERS 
—FIRST  N.  A.  ARTILLERY'S  BAND  ORGANIZED,  YOUNGEST 
LEADER — CHAPLAIN  NOOY,  347TH  F.  A. — COL.  GRANGER 
—FIRST  REGIMENTAL  ARTILLERY  TRUCK  SCHOOL — MAJ. 

DAVIS MAYOR  ROLPH'S  VISIT — ASSEMBLY  HALL — CAPT. 

SUTTON — FIRST  FIELD  SERVICES — SOME  CHARACTERS, 
INCLUDING  THE  THREE  GUARDSMEN — CHAPLAIN  LACOMBE 
—THE  348TH  AND  COL.  BOTTOMS — OLD  CAISSON  SONG — 
SMOKE  BOMBS  AND  ARTILLERY  DRILL — CHAPLAIN  BARRON 
—TRENCH  MORTARS  AND  CAPT.  MAWDSLEY. 

To  the  three  great  branches  of  land  fighters  this  war 
has  added  what  might  be  termed  an  over-land,  aviation. 
It  has  also  shifted  the  importance  of  those  formerly  em- 
ployed, advancing  Artillery,  youngest  of  the  three,  to  head 
of  the  family,  and  relegating  its  dashing  leader,  Cavalry, 
to  the  rear.  Men  have  fought  and  killed  since  Cain  and 
Abel,  on  foot,  since  earliest  Egypt  days,  on  horseback,  but 
only  since  1280  with  artillery,  when  Moors  used  it  first 
in  Europe  at  Cordova,  and  Ferdinand  of  Castile  took 
Gibraltar  with  cannon  in  1309.  The  Chinese,  stationary 
for  ages,  primal  discoverers  of  everything,  had  invented 
gun-powder  four  centuries  before,  but,  as  in  everything 
else,  did  not  follow  it  to  its  great  end.  After  Spain,  France 
used  artillery  in  1338,  and  Joan  the  Maid  is  said  to  have 


238  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

pointed  the  guns  herself,  in  1428.  The  father  of  Artil- 
lery was  Gustavus  Adolphus  who,  in  the  Thirty  Years  war 
— and  of  this  there  have  been  but  four! — used  two  guns 
to  a  regiment,  and  set  all  nations  thinking.  So  Louis 
XIV.  made  Artillery  a  separate  branch  of  the  army  and 
founded  its  first  school.  The  French  have  always  been 
noted  in  this  branch,  from  Napoleon  I.  and  Napoleon  III. 
who  wrote,  largely  himself,  a  standard  work  upon  Artil- 
lery, till  Today's  fighting;  but  the  Germans  were  the  last 
to  adopt  it. 

China's  unworked  ideas  have  lead  the  world:  Ger- 
many, in  every  art  and  endeavor  has  tagged  along,  seizing 
upon  other  nations'  discoveries  and  inventions,  reaping 
what  other  have  sown.  So  this  sponging  World-Profiteer 
became  "Superman,"  boastful,  bloated,  bumptious,  baby- 
bombing  Bosche — Bosh !  Even  their  Frederick  the  Great  to 
whom  for  lack  of  great  men  they  must  ever  look  back, 
even  unto  the  early  Eighteenth  Century,  thought  little  of 
Artillery. 

Prussia?  No.  This  United  States,  youngest  of  Na- 
tions, invented  the  first  long  gun  to  fire  hollow  projectiles 
by  direct  fire  at  long  range,  and  Col.  Bomford  of  the 
United  States  Ordnance  Department,  did  it  'way  back 
in  1812,  called  it  the  Columbiad;  and  the  United  States, 
inside  and  outside  the  Ordnance  Department,  has  made 
endless  improvements  upon  that  gun  in  the  last  106 
years.  The  Krupps  know  all  that,  none  better.  So  when 
this  War  announced,  "Artillery  First,  Gentlemen, — and 
Huns,"  we  were  ready  for  the  Front  after  but  short 
delay  for  manufacturing  some  needed  Artillery  and  train- 
ing more  Artillerists. 

The  latter  part  of  that  preparation,  for  the  91st 
Division,  was  entrusted  to  Brig.  Gen.  Edward  Burr,  born 
in  Boonville,  Missouri,  in  1859,  educated  first  at  Wash- 
ington University,  then  graduated  from  West  Point  in 
1882  with  the  distinction  of  standing  first  in  his  class, 
and  being  therefore  assigned  to  the  Engineer  Corps,  with 
the  customary  Second  Lieutenant's  commission  which  he 
exchanged  for  a  First  the  next  year.  He  was  Captain 


CAMP   LEWIS 


BRIG.-GEN.  EDWARD  BURR 


of ,  a  Company  of  Engineer  regulars  at  Santiago,  and 
later  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  2nd  Volunteer  Engineers, 
but  was  mustered  out  of  the  volunteer  service  into  the 
regular  again  after  the  Spanish  War,  reverting  to  his 


240  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

regular  rank.  There  his  advance  was  rapid,  as  old  army 
promotions  went,  being  Major  in  1903,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
in  1908,  Colonel,  1912,  ordered  in  June  1914  to  organize 
a  new  regiment  of  Engineers  at  Vancouver  Barracks,  and 
in  August  1917  to  proceed  to  Camp  Lewis  as  Brigadier- 
General  of  the  166th  Field  Artillery.  He  had,  on  the  way, 
served  in  the  Philippines,  been  Commandant  of  the  En- 
gineers School,  Washington  D.  C.,  Senior-Assistant  to 
Chief  of  Engineers,  and  in  charge  of  fortifications  con- 
struction. 

Camp  Lewis!  Again  that  fateful  connection  with  the 
past  which  tended  toward  this  cantonment.  Brig.  Gen. 
Burr  shares  one  characteristic  with  a  former  famous,  and 
infamous,  member  of  his  race — wide  scholarship.  Other- 
wise, Brig.  Gen.  Aaron  was  everything  Brig.  Gen.  Edward 
is  not;  the  former,  brilliant,  erratic,  never  true  to  any- 
thing or  anybody;  while  the  latter  sticks  to  study,  duty, 
friend,  Country,  like  a  veritable  burr.  Good  blood,  the 
Burr's,  contaminated  only  by  the  traitor  whose  father 
was  president  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  whose 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Johnathan  Edwards,  whose 
own  position  was  among  the  highest  of  this  Country, 
and  whose  daughter,  the  beautiful  Theodosia,  married 
to  Governor  Allston  of  South  Carolina,  was  the  woman 
Capt.  Lewis  loved.  Had  that  love  not  been  thwarted,  he 
probably  would  never  have  commanded  the  expedition 
which  gave  this  Northwest  to  the  United  States,  which 
here  established  a  cantonment  for  the  defense  of  the  Na- 
tion Theodosia's  father  wronged,  sending  to  it  one  of 
his  name  to  command  a  Brigade  turning  its  guns  against 
another  conspirator  with  Mexico.  It  is  like  the  House 
That  Jack  Built. 

As  for  Brig.  Gen.  Edward  Burr,  his  family  is  his 
Country's,  root  and  branch.  He  married  Ruth  Green 
of  Portland.  Both  sons,  William  Edward  and  John  Green 
Burr  were  graduated  in  the  class  of  1914  from  that  West 
Point  which  Aaron  Burr  commanded  more  than  a  century 
before,  but  who  left  no  son  to  bear  his  tarnished  name. 
Both  are  also  captains  of  Field  Artillery,  the  former  of 


CAMP   LEWIS  241 

the  17th,  with  his  regiment  in  France;  John  Green  Burr 
at  Camp  Greene  with  the  13th.  A  nephew,  Lieut.  Henry 
Reed,  is  stationed  at  Camp  Lewis,  while  his  brother  John 
spent  last  year  in  Russia  as  war  correspondent  and  has 
recently  been  appointed  Russian  Consul-General  in  New 
York. 

And  Mrs.  Burr  is  quite  as  much  in  the  Service  as 
the  others  though  she  bears  no  title,  flies  no  flag.  She 
came  to  Tacoma  when  the  General  came  to  Camp  Lewis 
and  immediately  went  to  work  in  the  Red  Cross  Gift 
Shop  which  does  a  rushing  business.  This  was  no  swivel- 
chair  position,  in  fact  there  was  no  chair  of  any  kind  in 
the  shop,  despite  a  law  to  provide  clerks  with  seats,  for 
if  a  chair  came  in,  it  was  sold  from  under  one.  Mrs. 
Burr  was  as  punctual  mornings  as  if  her  nothing-a-month 
salary  were  to  be  docked  if  she  were  tardy;  she  had 
only  a  "snack"  at  noon,  and,  at  the  last,  she  locked  the 
door  at  closing  time  or  stayed  over-time  to  conclude  a 
sale.  Nothing  was  allowed  to  interfere,  not  even  the 
sham  battle  of  her  husband's  Brigade.  "I'm  dying  to  see 
it,  and  invited  to  a  beautiful  luncheon  in  town,  too,  but 
this  is  my  work,  it  must  be  attended  to,"  and  it  was. 
Grown  manager,  she  developed  a  real  talent  for  business. 
The  last  month  she  was  connected  with  the  Gift  Shop, 
it  did  the  largest  business  in  its  history,  clear  profit,  of 
course,  for  every  article  in  stock  was  a  gift.  It  is  to 
be  feared  some  of  her  army  friends  afterward  repented 
the  enthusiasm  she  inspired  in  giving  of  their  dainty 
Orient  gowns  and  belongings.  Mrs.  Burr  worked  steadily 
till  the  week  after  the  Division  left  Camp  Lewis,  standing 
upon  her  weary  feet  as  many  hours  as  did  soldiers.  She 
did  not  even  take  Saturdays  off.  The  General  would  drop 
in  upon  chance  of  a  word  with  her  between  customers, 
to  be  instantly  dropped  if  such  appeared.  Not  many 
shops  can  boast  of  a  Brigadier-General  to  balance  cash 
of  a  week-end  as  this  one  often  had. 

This  seems  as  good  a  place  as  any  to  say  to  the 
women  behind  the  guns  of  the  91st  Division,  what  has 
been  hinted  before  in  this  book,  that  few  of  them  are 

§  17 


242  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

doing  as  much  for  the  war  as  the  wives  of  its  com- 
manders, judging  from  those  who  graced  the  vicinity  of 
Camp  Lewis.  They  discouraged  extravagance  by  their 
example  in  dress  and  living,  they  worked  hard  and  intel- 
ligently, they  kept  brave  and  cheery.  Some  remain;  other 
have  returned  to  the  four  quarters.  They  are  missed. 

Gen.  Burr  arrived  the  end  of  August  and  spent  two 
weeks  in  the  guard  house.  He  did;  no  other  quarters 
were  ready  for  him.  He  is  the  simplest  of  men,  anyway. 
Surely  only  at  Camp  Lewis  Hostess  House  would  you 
see  a  Brigadier-General  standing  in  the  cafeteria  line 
evidently  absorbed  in  some  problem,  though  it  might 
only  have  been  a  computation  of  time,  distance,  and  rate 
of  movement  toward  the  counter.  There  was  little  of 
style  but  much  of  skill  that  first  year.  Camp  autos  were 
few.  Brig.-Gen.  Styer's  was  still  on  paper,  he  said,  and 
did  not  run  well  through  the  mud. 

Maj.  0.  W.  Rethorst  was  Adjutant,  Lieutenants  Otto 
Trunk  and  Raymond  Hartney,  afterward  Lieut.  Parrott, 
Aids.  Robert  P.  invented  the  Parrott  gun,  first  used  at 
Bull  Run.  His  ordnance  was  the  most  noted  during  the 
Rebellion.  One  of  his  30-pounders  burst  only  at  the 
4606th  shot.  He  was  graduated  from  West  Point  nearly 
a  century  ago,  fought  the  Creeks,  was  Captain  of  Ord- 
nance Corps,  and  superintendent  of  the  West  Point  Foun- 
dry. The  Navy  Parrott  served  with  Perry,  with  Fremont 
in  Mexico  and  fought  well  through  the  Civil  War.  Noblesse 
Oblige.  We  have  many  glorious  names  to  live  up  to, 
Ninety-First. 

All  organizations  of  the  new  National  Army  have 
worked  hard  to  transform  men  of  peace  into  men  of 
war  against  a  ruthless  foe,  but  Artillery  has  surely  borne 
its  full  share.  The  United  States  had  so  small  a  nucleus, 
guns  are  so  much  larger,  problems  so  many,  so  different, 
so  difficult.  Even  the  older  regular  army  officers  are 
studying  them,  for  the  sudden  leading  importance  of  Ar- 
tillery has  annexed  a  new  realm  of  thought  as  well  as 
action,  and  nothing  is  stable,  not  even  the  horses — that 
was  accidental.  The  fact  is,  just  when  horses  had  been 
rounded  up,  trained  by  the  Artillery  to  bring  on  cannon 


CAMP  LEWIS  243 

and  caissons,  motorizing  is  begun  in  earnest.  Horses 
were  scarce,  so  many  were  killed  going  into  action  that 
cannon  must  often  be  abandoned,  forage  was  costly  and 
its  transportation  a  huge  problem,  the  terrific  shelling 
had  mined  the  entire  battlefront,  while  fortifications  had 
everywhere  been  reduced,  and  heavy  guns  must  be  moved 
from  emplacement  to  emplacement.  As  the  United  States 
produces  the  best  and  major  part  of  world  automobiles, 
the  Ordnance  Department  coped  with  the  situation.  This 
occasioned  delay  in  Artillery.  When  our  men  serve  in 
France  their  guns  will  be  drawn  by  a  marvelous  five-ton, 
armored  tractor  which  will  haul  a  4.7  inch,  Four-Point- 
Seven  is  the  Artillery  name  of  the  gun,  over  and  through 
anything  in  the  way  of  a  shell  hole,  up  a  45  degree  rise, 
on  a  70  degree  slant.  When  tested,  it  cut  down  trees 
and  climbed  over  the  trunks,  paid  no  attention  whatever 
to  a  foot  of  mud  and  kept  up  a  twelve  mile  gait,  though, 
with  its  load,  it  weighed  20,000  pounds.  Nothing  but  a 
direct  shell  will  kill  or  even  wound  this  tractor,  which 

is  now  being  manufactured. 

*********  * 

Camp  Lewis,  largest  of  cantonments  has  a  great  Artil- 
lery range,  the  best.  "No,"  replied  Gen.  Burr  early  in 
the  Spring  of  1918,  "not  the  best,  it  is  too  flat,  too  easy. 
Artillery  practice  should  be  under  conditions  at  least  as 
difficult  as  those  which  obtain  on  a  battlefield."  Lord 
Bacon  put  it,  "Practice  with  disadvantages,  as  dancers 
do  with  thick  shoes,  for  it  breeds  great  perfection  if 
the  practice  be  harder  than  the  use."  However,  that  was 
before  the  condemnation  of  the  Nisqually  Reservation 
where  a  long  hill  rising  three-hundred  feet  above  the 
prairie  stops  shells,  and  where  heavy  guns  can  be  placed 
under  many  conditions  of  fire  at  from  six  to  eight  mile 
ranges.  A  second  range  for  light  Artillery  has  also  been 
opened,  or  rather  closed,  North  of  Dupont  where  another 
hill  prevents  shells  from  striking  shipping  upon  Puget 
Sound.  So  now  Camp  Lewis  has  another  "best",  and 
largest. 

It  is  a  curious  fact  that  the  First  Regular  military 
organization  in  the  United  States  was  the  "Ancient  and 


244  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Honorable  Artillery  Company  of  Boston,  founded  in  1637. 
Eminent  citizens  have  always  belonged  to  it  and  at  last 
accounts  the  A.  and  H.  A.  Co.  was  still  giving  its  annual 
parade,  hearing  its  annual  sermon  and  sitting  down  to 
its  annual  dinner.  If  any  of  its  members,  on  their  way 
to  war,  or  recovering  in  English  "blighty"  from  wounds, 
should  happen  upon  Artillery  drill  upon  the  Field  pre- 
sented by  the  City  of  London  to  its  Ancient  and  Honorable 
Artillery  Company  the  same  year  ours  was  chartered,  it 
would  be  right  interesting  to  hear  it.  The  Field  near 
Moorfields  was  presented  for  a  birthday  present  to  that 
notable  Company  ending  its  hundredth  year;  so  that  it 
is  just  a  century  more  Ancient,  but  not  a  whit  more 
Honorable  than  ours,  even  though  Staff  officers  and  noble- 
men begged  to  be  voted  into  it  and  Princes  paid  their 
guinea  a  year  to  belong.  How  strange  if  the  three  men 
to  whom  the  Eighth  Henry  granted  the  patent  in  1537 
could  return,  one  bringing  his  Long-bow,  one  his  Cross- 
bow, one  his  musket,  for  all  three  were  "Artillery"  then, 
and  could  be  joined  by  "those  Gentlemen"  who  were 
"desired  to  take  care  that  their  arms  are  clean  and  well 
fixed,  and  that  they  bring  with  them  fine  dry  powder, 
and  even  match."  This  polite  admonition  was  attached 
to  a  summons  to  meet  for  practice  on  their  Field  a  certain 
day  in  1682,  dressed  and  accoutred  at  their  own  expense. 
If  these  two  bodies  could  there  be  joined  by  our  own 
Ancient — and  Modern — Honorable  Artillery! 

In  this  war,  the  French  Artillery  has  been  marvelous. 
The  166th  Field  Artillery  Brigade  has  therefore  reason 
to  congratulate  itself  that  a  man  distinguished  in  the 
French  army,  6th  Artillery,  was  detailed  for  instruction 
to  Camp  Lewis.  Lieut.  Pierre  Gambier  wears  the  Croix 
de  Guerre,  with  two  stars  denoting  citation  before  the 
Division,  and  a  palm  branch  indicating  citation  before 
the  entire  army.  Sergt.  Guy  on,  his  assistant,  is  also  a 
veteran  of  the  early  days  of  the  war.  At  the  Remount  Mili- 
tary exhibition,  Lieut.  Gambier  won  a  ribbon  for  his  hurdle 
riding.  Even  at  a  distance  one  could  distinguish  the  French 
style  of  horsemanship. 


245 


COL.   R.    S.    PRATT 

THE   346TH    LIGHT   ARTILLERY 


Shortly  before  the  Division  left  Camp  Lewis,  Col. 
Raymond  S.  Pratt  joined  it  to  command  the  346th  Field 
Artillery  overseas.  Graduated  from  West  Point  in  1901, 


246  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Col.  Pratt  had  been  stationed  in  the  Philippines  but,  after 
the  usual  removes  of  a  regular  Army  officer,  which  occur 
at  about  the  same  intervals  as  those  of  a  Methodist  parson, 
he  was  lately  stationed  with  the  9th  Field  Artillery  at 
Fort  Sill. 

Col.  F.  T.  Austin  organized  the  346th,  but  Maj.  George 
S.  Gay  has  been  acting  as  Commanding  Officer  most  of 
the  time.  He  was  honor  graduate  of  St.  John's  Military 
Academy,  and  appointed  from  Civil  life  in  1910;  sta- 
tioned in  those  same  old  Philippines,  and  in  Honolulu, 
saw  active  service  upon  the  Mexican  Border,  and  is  one 
of  the  few  men  at  Camp  Lewis,  perhaps  the  only  Ameri- 
can there,  who  has  already  fought  in  this  war.  Maj. 
Gay  served  in  France  from  July  to  December,  1917,  and 
fought  with  Battery  D,  5th  U.  S.  F.  A.  on  the  Lorraine 
Front.  Wounded?  no,  none  of  their  two  hundred  was 
killed  or  wounded  then.  It  is  comforting  to  those  at 
home  to  know  that  this  is  often  the  case.  An  American, 
participating  in  a  big  battle  early  in  the  war,  wrote 
home:  "It  is  wonderful  to  relate  that  they  must  have 
put  a  thousand  of  these  great  packages  of  hate  •< six-inch 
high  explosives)  into  our  midst  that  day  and  that  I 
did  not  see  a  horse  or  a  man  struck  down." 

Major  Gay  was  all  but  born  in  the  saddle.  At  the 
last  great  event  before  the  Division  moved,  given  by 
the  Remount,  he  took  the  blue  ribbon  riding  Billy  in 
the  Officers'  Owned  Mounts.  The  old  expression  "won 
his  spurs"  by  the  way,  refers,  in  army  parlance,  to  pro- 
motion to  Major,  as  that  officer  and  all  ranking  him  wear 
spurs,  even  when  walking.  The  Major  cares  for  no 
other  amusement  than  riding  and,  mounted,  belongs  in  the 
Centaur  Corps. 

Had  just  written  that  Major  Gay  was  probably  the 
only  American  at  camp  who  had  already  served  in 
France  when  informed  that  one  of  the  346th  Headquart- 
ers Company,  Private  Wilhoit,  had  served  five  months  in 
the  French  army,  had  been  several  times  wounded,  yet 
is  eager  to  go  back  for  more.  He  owns  one  of  the  largest 
theaters  on  the  Pacific  Coast  at  Stockton  but  is  now  act- 
ing War  plays  where  "All  the  World's  a  stage." 


CAMP  LEWIS 


247 


MAJ.  G.  S.  GAY 

"No.  6  was  the  First  to  fire  a  gun  at  Camp  Lewis." 
Beg  pardon,  Maj.  Gay,  you  look  like  an  up-to-the-minute 
American  and  you  are  .Seventy-seven  years  behind  the 
times!  The  First  to  fire  guns  here  were  United  States 
Marines  who  had  dragged  two  brass  howitzers  from  the 
Wilkes  Expedition  ship,  anchored  in  Puget  Sound  just 
off  what  is  now  your  own  Light  Artillery  Range,  which 
thus  they  christened  for  you,  in  a  salute  to  that  Inde- 
pendence Day  which  you  go  to  prolong. 

Another  346th  officer  to  serve  on  the  Mexican  Border 
initiating,  in  the  "Brand  new  Motor  expedition  of  fifteen 
trucks,"  the  mobilizing  which  is  one  of  the  marvels  of 
this  war,  is  Maj.  Natt  Jamieson,  who  participated  in  a 


248  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

raid  which  recalls  another  of  which  he  will  have  nothing 
said;  pity,  too,  for  'twas  interesting.  This  Jamieson  was 
Captain  of  Reserve  Corps  and  an  instructor  in  the  First 
Officers  Training  Camp  at  the  Presidio. 

Of  the  regiment's  officers  a  surprising  percentage  are 
Yale-men,  though  Capt.  B.  H.  Dibblee,  Headquarters 
Orderlies,  was  captain  at  Harvard  and  Half-back  in  the 
Ail-Americans,  as  was  First-Lieutenant  Hamilton  Corbett. 

Headquarters  Company  has  other  lights,  but  none  that 
failed.  There  is  Corp.  Lloyd  Ireland,  Light-weight  Cham- 
pion of  the  World,  also  Stegner  of  the  University  of 
Washington  and  McLean  of  Washington  State  College. 
However,  when  the  Division  asked  for  lists  of  athletes, 
Battery  D  alone  sent  one-hundred  names.  All  this  argues 
no  good  for  the  Teutons. 

The  regimental  band  is,  with  Staff  officers  and  an 
Orderlies  Section,  a  part  of  every  Headquarters  Company. 
Was  it  mentioned  that  band  instruments  are  Ordnance 
also?  This  unit  has  several  distinguishments.  It  was  the 
First  Artillery  Band  to  organize  within  the  National 
Army,  and  with  forty  members,  which  is  the  number  now 
officially  designated,  many  more  than  others  had,  and  it 
claims  the  youngest  leader  in  the  entire  army,  Sewell  S. 
Snypp.  He  composed  a  march  for  the  346th,  and  just 
before  his  regiment  left,  went  to  the  National  School  of 
Regimental  Band  Leaders.  ' 

The  346th  won  the  Thanksgiving  Marathon,  and 
treasure  an  inscribed  Loving  Cup — wonder  what  will 
become  of  all  such  trophies  at  camp  while  their  winners 
are  putting  their  athletics  to  the  supreme  test  in  France? 
They'll  be  taking  Prussian  helmets  for  Hating  Cups.  Do, 
Somebody,  send  me  one  to  drink  your  health  from.  The 
346th  must  have  more  loving  cups  than  any  other  regi- 
ment in  camp.  At  the  last  contest,  given  by  the  Remount 
before  the  Division  moved,  Battery  B  took  a  loving  cup 
as  first  prize  for  Artillery  half  gun  section,  and  Battery 
D  a  box  of  cigars;  in  the  unlimbering  contest,  D  grabbed 
the  loving  cup  and  D  took  the  cigars.  When  the  start 
with  unharnessed  horses  was  begun,  harness  disposed  of 


CAMP  LEWIS  249 

as  in  the  field,  horses  tied,  carriage  wheel  and  squad  in 
front  of  the  piece,  events  were  tied  between  the  two 
regimental  batteries.  B  took  a  second  loving  cup,  and 

D  a  second  box  of  cigars. 

*********  * 

"Do?  Do  in  Artillery?  Everything.  Our  first  train- 
ing is  Infants':  we  have  to  know  everything  Infantry 
knows,  and  then  some."  The  good-natured  jibe  was  in- 
terrupted by  some  passing  soldiers  singing. 

"Your  Uncle  Sammy  he-needs  the  Infantry. 

He-needs  the  Cavalry,  He-needs  Artillery, 
And-then  by  gosh  we'll  all-go  to  Germany, 

Poor  old  Kaiser  Bill." 

The  last  line  came  in  ludicrous  wails  of  commiseration 
connecting  the  ceaseless  repetition  with  "Oh-h — Your 
Uncle  Sammy."  If  you  hear  this  in  the  morning  the 
absurd  thing  will  sing  itself  over  and  over  in  your  brain 
till  you  sing  it  into  some  one  else's. 

The  young  fellow  grinned  as  he  listened.  "Of  course 
he  needs  us  all,  but  Artillery's  the  bearing  branch.  We 
drill  three  hours  in  the  morning,  ditto  P.  M.  and  just  as 
likely  as  not  lectures  from  seven  o'clock  till  past  nine 
evenings.  Subjects?  Mathematics,  chemistry,  wind,  topo- 
graphy, we  haven't  had  circulation  of  the  blood  yet,  but 
it  wouldn't  surprise  me."  He  would  not  fare  better  in 
England  where  they  train  Artillerymen  from  6:45  A.  M. 
to  6:45  P.  M.  and  two  nights  a  week. 

After  Infantry  work,  alignment  of  horses,  assembling, 
learning  and  naming  all  parts  of  the  guns.  It  does  seem 
a  liberal  education,  doesn't  it? 

Your  Uncle  Sammy  needs  privates  too.  So  thought 
Evan  Stallcup,  Secretary  of  the  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution,  Tacoma,  attorney-at-law,  so  he  enlisted,  was 
assigned  to  the  346th  Artillery,  and  detailed  as  stable- 
boy.  It  doesn't  sound  warlike  and  it  wasn't,  in  fact  it 
would  have  made  his  great-grandfather,  Gen.  James 
Shelby  of  Revolutionary  fame,  a  trifle  disgusted  perhaps,  or 


250  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

his  Grandfather,  the  first  Governor  of  Kentucky ;  but  "Tige" 
got  a  lot  of  fun  out  of  it.  At  any  rate  it  was  different. 
"So  he  polished  up  the  handle  so  careful-ly  that  now  he 
is"  etc.  In  other  words,  Private  Stallcup  was  soon  Cor- 
poral Stallcup,  and,  as  part  and  parcel  of  his  new  com- 
mand, had  the  training  of  sentries.  One  of  them,  care- 
free, good-natured,  seemed  quite  beyond  military  propriet- 
ies. Over  and  over  Stallcup  would  come  up  to  challenge 
the  sentry,  who  could  never  be  got  to  reply  in  prescribed 
form,  "Advance,  Corporal,  and  be  recognized." 

Stallcup,  tvery  sleepy  one  night  after  the  unusual  man- 
ual work  of  the  day,made  another  tour  of  the  barracks 
and  again  approached  the  sentry  whose  challenge  being, 
"answered  for  the  steenth  time,  Corporal  of  the  Guard, 
triumphantly  retorted,  "Well,  come  on,  chief,  and  let's 
have  a  look."  Yet  in  telling  it,  the  narrator  added,  "But 
the  Corporal  himself  was  not  flawless,  for  that  very  day, 
instead  of  standing  at  attention  when  addressing  a  super- 
ior officer,  he  had  tapped  his  finger  upon  his  palm  and, 
being  good-naturedly  reminded  by  the  Captain,  had, 
further,  answered,  you  can't  expect  a  lawyer  to  talk  with- 
out his  hands."  However,  he  trained  down  and  picked 
up  the  buzzer  work  of  the  regimental  Headquarters  comp- 
any so  readily  that  he  was  detailed  to  the  Liaison  School. 

What's  that !  Doesn't  sound  very  respectable  ?  Is,  quite 
so;  School  of  military  connections,  the  Division  Signal 
School.  This  was  something  like!  Stallcup,  graduate  and 
post-graduate  of  Stanford,  seized  upon  the  novel  work 
and,  the  course  ended,  was  promoted  to  Top  Sergeant  and 
retained  as  instructor  in  the  school — "Of  course  other 
fellows  knew  more,  but  I  could  teach  what  I'd  learned." 
So  just  before  the  Division  moved  out,  he  went  East  in 
charge  of  a  detachment  of  men  for  short  intensive  training. 

"Never  got  so  much  out  of  a  thing  before  in  my  life, 
wouldn't  have  missed  it  for  worlds" — perhaps  the  old 
General  isn't  disgusted  after  all,  but  is  watching  his  de- 
scendant's ascendant  with  a  tolerant  smile. 

All  three  regiments  of  the  166th  Field  Artillery  Brig- 
ade are  served  by  Catholic  chaplains.  Lieut.  Otto  Nooy 


CAMP  LEWIS 


251 


CHAPLAIN   NOOY 

of  the  346th  was  born  in  Holland  so  did  not  go  overseas 
with  the  Division.  He  studied,  at  Usher  College,  for  four 
years  in  England,  three  years  in  France,  three  in  Belgium, 
so  that  he  speaks  several  languages  well  and  is  therefore 
often  of  use  as  interpreter  in  this  Babel  of  an  army. 
The  college  which  he  attended  at  Namur,  Belgium  was 
"all  shot  up."  There  he  often  saw  the  brave  Mercier 
whose  parishes  now  number  800,  and  his  parishioners 
2,500,000.  At  that  time  he  was  professor-lecturer  and  was 
especially  interested  in  standardizing  text  books  for  Bel- 
gium. Father  Nooy  taught  in  St.  Paul  Seminary  on  Sum- 
mit Avenue,  was  in  Walla  Walla  before  coming  to  Camp 
Lewis  January  1,  and  has  been  twelve  years  in  the  priest- 
hood. 


252 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CAMP  LEWIS  253 

THE   347TH    LIGHT   ARTILLERY 

Col.  R.  S.  Granger  is  another  who  should  be  a  good 
American  and  a  fine  officer  by  this  time.  Gideon  Granger 
was  born  just  before  the  Revolution,  graduated  at  Yale, 
and  hurried  into  the  law  at  twenty-one  as  next  best  fight- 
ing; served  several  terms  in  Connecticut  legislature,  was 
conspicuous  in  efforts  to  establish  public  school  funds; 
and  was  Postmaster-General  for  thirteen  years.  His  son 
Francis  practiced  law  in  New  York  where  he  was  long 
a  member  of  the  Assembly  and  prominent  in  the  Anti- 
Masonic  movement,  went  to  Congress,  and  in  1841,  he 
became  Postmaster-General.  Next  Gordon  Granger,  West 
Point  graduate,  was  in  siege  of  Vera  Cruz,  battles  of 
Cerro  Gordon  and  Contreras,  and  in  at  the  capture  of 
Mexico.  In  1862  he  was  appointed  Major-General  of 
Volunteers,  and  fought  at  Chickamauga,  Missionary  Ridge, 
siege  of  Fort  Morgan,  capture  of  Mobile.  He  was  De- 
partment-Commander in  Texas  and  Kentucky.  After  the 
war  he  was  made  Colonel  of  Infantry, — only  distinguished 
officers  received  appointments  near  to  their  Volunteer  rank. 
His  brother  Robert,  a  West  Pointer,  fought  in  the  Florida 
Indian  War,  served  many  years  on  the  frontier  when  it 
was  a  frontier,  was  Colonel  of  Kentucky  Volunteers,  Union, 
and  in  1871  he  was  appointed  Colonel. 

None  of  all  this  said  Col.  Robert  S.,  son  of  Gordon 
Granger.  A  Civil  War  veteran  told  it.  The  Colonel  of 
the  347th  F.  A.  was  graduated  from  West  Point  in  time 
to  fight  in  Cuba  and  saw  the  United  States  flag  finally 
dismasted — very  remarkable,  a  conquering  country's 
voluntary  relinquishment  of  a  land.  Col.  Granger  be- 
longed to  the  4th  Field  Artillery.  Made  Captain  in  1905, 
he  was  Captain  of  the  Quartermaster  Corps,  in  1915.  He 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Artillery  School,  and  of  the  Army 
School  of  the  Line. 

Col.  Granger  came  to  Camp  Lewis  August  22,  1917. 
He  is  very  proud  of  his  regiment  which  is  so  largely 
composed  of  Californians  that  he  says  they  brand  with 
that  mark  any  maverick  that  happens  to  stray  in.  He 


254  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

insists  they  can  beat  anybody,  firing  anything,  from  a 
popgun  to  a  three-inch,  from  an  air  gun  to  an  automatic, 
from  a  toy  pistol  to  a — why  in  two  weeks  twenty-six  out 
of  thirty-two  became  experts  at  the  machine  guns.  For 
himself,  next  to  cannon  balls,  the  Colonel  prefers  tennis 
balls. 

The  347th  possesses  a  First  among  Artillery,  a  regi- 
mental Machine  Shop  and  Truck  School,  Col.  Granger's 
idea.  In  this  war,  more  and  more,  every  man  must  be 
a  mechanic,  especially  in  Artillery.  The  twelve  autos 
owned  in  the  regiment  primarily  suggested  the  innovation. 
There  are  thirty-six  men  in  this  school,  taking  a  course 
of  instruction  under  Sergeant-of -Ordnance  Smith  who  was 
formerly  head  of  the  Studebaker  Company,  Los  Angeles. 
Of  course  each  battery  has  three  mechanics  and  a  supply 
company  detachment.  Evidently  the  347th  Truck  School, 
if  that  is  its  official  name,  can  now  make,  mend  or  mar 
anything  in  that  line,  since  Col.  Granger  says  that  when 
Gen.  Helmick  inspected  Camp  Lewis,  he  said  the  347th 
Firing  Squad  fired  faster  than  regular  army  batteries  are 
required  to  shoot.  No  wonder  Maj.  Herring  waxes  elo- 
quent upon  at  least  one  subject.  He  says  men  from  Camp 
Lewis  to  Motor  or  Ordnance  Schools  conducted  at  the  great 
factories  in  the  East,  proved  such  apt  students  that  they 
were  kept  for  instructors.  As  fast  as  motors  are  built, 
they  are  driven  under  their  own  power  by  Ordnance  men 
to  the  nearest  port  of  embarcation.  These  men  are  en- 
gaged not  only  in  the  construction  but  the  standardizing 
and  repair  of  trucks.  Ordnance  men  wear  black  and  red 
hat  cords. 

As  the  346th  had  all  the  three-inch  guns  for  Light 
Artillery  work,  the  347th  borrowed  them  two  mornings 
a  week.  Proficiency  attained  is  astonishing  when  one  re- 
flects that  the  majority  of  the  men  had  never  seen  a 
cannon  fired,  nor  knew  what  a  caisson  was  other  than 
a  trick  word  for  a  spelling  match.  When  the  war  began 
we  were  short  of  Artillery  Officers.  One  in  the  347th 
F.  A.  is  a  veteran  of  twenty-five  years'  standing,  Maj. 
Frederick  L.  Taylor.  His  experience  against  Spaniards, 


CAMP  LEWIS 


255 


MAJ.  F.  L.  TAYLOR 

Moros,  Chinese  and  Villistas,  with  four  wounds  to  take 
out  the  romance,  will  stand  him  in  good  stead  fighting 
Huns  in  whom  there  is  none.  On  the  word  of  a  priest,  he 
is  the  best  loved  man  in  the  regiment,  this  despite  the 
fact  that  many  of  the  officers  are  old  friends. 

When  Mayor  Rolph  of  San  Francisco  made  his  famous 
visit  to  Camp  Lewis  with  a  carload  of  gifts  from  the 
families  and  friends  of  the  5000  San  Franciscans  there, 
most  of  them  in  the  347th  F.  A.  and  the  363rd  Infantry, 
the  former  gave  him  and  his  wife  a  huge  family  dinner 
party,  after  which,  exactly  like  big  boys,  they  gathered 
around  the  bandstand  and  received  their  gifts  direct 
from  his  hand  and  messages  from  his  lips.  It  was  like 


256  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

a  Spring  Christmas,  that  May  7th,  and  a  box  Social,  and 
a  fraternity  picnic,  all  in  one.  The  Mayor  had  remem- 
bered everybody  down  to  the  mascot,  who  received  a  box 
of  dog  biscuits,  and  who  made  the  customary  remark,  in 
dog,  that  it  was  exactly  what  he  wanted  most. 

Though  there  are  many  college  men  in  the  ranks,  a 
post-graduate  of  Johns  Hopkins,  a  professor  of  chemistry 
at  Tulane  University,  New  Orleans,  in  the  infirmary,  the 
men  are  largely  from  the  trades.  "They  could  build  a 
battleship  and  plumb  it."  They  did  build  their  Assembly 
Hall,  with  its  log  pergola  and  battlemented  stone  fire- 
place with  the  iron  portcullis,  and  bookcases  suggesting 
the  same;  wired  the  ceiling  with  lights  in  rows  to  make 
brilliant  their  weekly  dances,  and  contrived  writing  desks 
which  drop  down  for  backs  to  the  benches  along  the  walls 
for  those  dances.  They  made  the  great  tables  for  the 
magazines  and  the  handsome  large  standards  for  the 
lights  upon  them,  though  their  lady  friends  made  the 
shades  and  for  the  dozens  of  overhead  lights,  the  curtains, 
the  bench  cushions  (round)  and  the  screens  to  cut 
off  the  view  of  the  heaters,  all  of  old  rose  cotton  crepe 
which  makes  a  most  artistic  combination  with  the  gray 
of  the  stain.  Even  the  piano  is  gray  and  the  benches 
built  into  the  four  cosy-corners.  An  Italian,  there  is  an 
entire  battery  of  "Italian  Californians"  in  the  347th,  has 
made  all  the  paper  racks  and  other  small  articles,  beside 
the  beautiful  broad  seats,  half  a  great  parallelogram 
which  faces  the  fireplace  and  will  accommodate  twenty.— 
or  thirty  who  are  friends.  Biagina  has  done  work  worthy 
his  name.  Everything  bears  the  crossed  cannon  which 
distinguishes  Artillery,  and  stationery  bears  the  stamp 
of  the  regiment.  The  designer  of  this  hall,  which  is  near- 
home  for  the  347th,  was  Nathan  Gordon  of  Headquarters 
Co.  Each  workman  gave  his  "such"  so  that  when  the 
regiment  left,  much  personality  remained  in  the  artistic 
place  to  welcome  the  next  comers.  The  men  contributed 
to  a  fund  which  paid  the  bus  fare  to  and  from  the  city 
for  parties  of  young  girls,  chaperoned  by  older  women, 
for  their  weekly  dances. 


CAMP  LEWIS  257 

The  347th  has  kept  itself  busy  and  decorated  its  sur- 
roundings more  than  most  of  the  other  units.  Grass 
was  as  rare  at  Camp  Lewis  as  in  Cuba  all  through  the 
91st  Division's  occupancy,  but  the  347th  had  a  green 
before  they  left.  Capt.  C.  Z.  Sutton  of  Headquarters  Co. 
has  taken  especial  interest  in  improvements.  Private  King 
was  a  landscape  gardener,  and  Capt.  Sutton's  old  home 
was  of  the  loveliest  in  beautiful  Pasadena  so  that  what- 
ever regiment  falls  heir  to  the  347th  locality,  will  have 
cause  for  congratulation. 

Another  beauty  of  the  347th  domain  is  the  bandstand 
with  its  appropriate  insignia,  in  the  center  of  the  fire 
break.  This  stand  has  been  used  as  altar  in  three  of  the 
Firsts  of  Camp  Lewis,  Field  Mass,  Good  Friday  and  Easter 
services.  At  the  Field  Mass,  even  quarantined  men  were 
allowed,  being  apart  and  in  the  open  air.  For  the  Easter 
service  the  bandstand  was  covered  with  green,  an  altar 
arranged  in  the  center,  the  three  chaplains  of  the  346th- 
7th-8th  F.  A.,  Fathers  Nooy,  Lacombe  and  Barren,  in 
churchly  vestments  officiated,  twenty-five  members  of  St. 
Patrick's  choir,  Tacoma,  sang,  the  348th  band  played,  and 
four  men  of  the  Field  Artillery,  all  over  six  feet  tall,  Irish 
descent  as  you  might  guess  from  their  names,  James  Ma- 
honey,  John  Classen,  James  Daley  and  Larry  Barrett, 
were  incense  bearers.  Father  Lacombe  had  charge  of  the 
impressive  service  and  the  great  square  was  thronged  with 
men  in  uniform  who,  scattered  all  over  the  world — and 
out  of  it — next  Easter  will  doubtless  return  in  mind  and 
in  spirit  to  that  gathering. 

Speaking  of  the  four  tall  incense  bearers  reminds 
everybody  who  knows  anything  of  the  347th  of  the  strange 
friendship  of  the  three  giant  sergeants  of  Battery  B,  Ma- 
honey,  Barrett  and  Brudigan,  modern  Athos,  Porthos  and 
d'Artagnan,  though  of  the  former  there  is  no  "little  man" 
of  Dumas'  tale,  the  shortest  being  over  six  feet,  the  tallest 
six-feet-five.  Off  duty,  one  is  never  seen  without  the 
others,  and  they  will  not  be  parted.  One  refused  a  prof- 
fered appointment  to  an  Officers  Training  School,  because 
the  other  two  were  not  assigned,  though  it  meant  his  re- 

§  18 


258  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

maining  among  the  non-commissioned.  A  second  would 
not  accept  a  much-desired  opportunity  to  take  charge  of 
Military  Police  going  to  a  port  of  embarcation  because 
his  friends  would  be  left  behind.  In  writing  this  book, 
so  many,  many  times  the  thought  has  come,  if  only  some- 
body could,  and  would,  take  it  for  text-book,  five,  ten, 
twenty  years  hence,  and  bring  it  up  to  date,  following  it, 
page  by  page,  telling  whether  projects  matured  or  failed, 
how  new  ideas  and  inventions  soon  became  old  and  were 
superseded,  which  men  went  up  and  which  down,  lived, 
died;  which  of  the  names  in  that  Depot  Brigade  cabinet 
became  the  great  ones,  even  what  became  of  these  three 
friends  and  whether  they  kept  together.  Just  to  read 
what  you  men  of  the  Ninety-First  have  written  upon  the 
blank  pages,  within  one  year,  would  be  to  gain  a  fascinat- 
ing glimpse  into  life,  which  is  real  History.  If  "Cupid" 
Munson,  former  marriage  license  clerk  of  San  Francisco, 
who  has  charge  of  statistics  would  speak  out.  If  the  "high 
class  Sacramento  Chinaman"  and  the  "high  class  technic- 
ian of  the  Supply  Company"  would  express  themselves ! 

And  why  not?  Jot  it  all  down,  how  you  and  your 
"bunkies"  fared.  Later,  when  censors  are  no  more,  write 
it  to  me.  Who  knows  but  there  may  come  a  sequel  which, 
reversing  precedents,  shall  be  so  much  more  worthwhile 
than  this  book,  when,  in  that  glorious  peace  you  go  to 
win,  we  shall  sit  down  in  fearless  reunion  to  be  happy, 
and  rise  to  work  with  light  hearts. 

There  are  many  huge  men  in  the  347th.  One  soon 
wore  out  his  shoes  in  drill  over  the  stones  and  was  con- 
fined to  barracks  till  his  No.  13  double  E  lasts  could  be 
made  to  order,  as  such  sizes  do  not  run  in  Uncle  Sam's 
family  even  though  it  is  a  husky  one,  and  its  members 
gained  from  ten  to  fifteen  pounds  throughout  this  per- 
sonel, — perhaps  because  eleven  of  them  are  from  famous 
restaurants,  drawing  up  to  $150  a  month,  till  they  joined 
his  family  group  at  Camp  Lewis. 

"Battery  A,  be  sure  to  say,  is  sure  going  to  batter  those 
Germans  some.  Why  they  don't  need  cannon,  just  fists, 
they're  professional  prize  fighters,  the  whole  bunch.  Of 


CAMP  LEWIS 


259 


course  you  know  Barthley  of  Chico,  Bert  Forbes,  Pickles 
Martin" — but  I  didn't,  not  one  of  them.  I  feel  my  in- 
significance more  every  day.  I  do  not  even  know  Ser- 
geant-Major Thomas  J.  Costello  formerly  confidential 
agent  in  the  Department  of  Justice,  San  Francisco,  though 
I  don't  regret  that  so  much  because  his  department  never 
recovered  my  watch,  though  I  furnished  a  perfectly  good 
picture  of  the  thief. 

This  was  all  but  forgotten,  "The  347th  has  the  Best 
jazz  band  on  the  cantonment." 

Yes,  yes  for  the  living,  but  there  is  Death  too.  Lee's 
comrades  of  the  Machine  Gun  Battalion  stopped  to  think 
of  that  the  day  they  went  as  far  as  the  little  camp 
cemetery  with  him  upon  his  long  journey  to  that  Far 


260  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Country  whence  no  traveler  returns.  The  band  played 
other  music  now,  and  as  the  soldiers  marched  with  arms 
reversed,  for  peace  lies  on  ahead,  out  toward  the  range, 
over  beyond  the  Remount,  into  the  quiet  woods  and  amid 
the  sighing  fires,  there  was  time  and  space  to  remember. 

All  his  Company  and  all  their  officers  formed  his 
escort.  Though  he  had  been  but  a  private,  promotion 
had  come,  and  the  firing  salute  was  his.  Father  Dinand's 
words  will  linger  with  the  gunners,  will  echo  in  their 
minds  when,  continent  and  sea  beyond  this  quiet  grave, 
others  of  them  will  fall  amid  the  crash  of  great  artillery 
and  shrieking  shells,  with  no  music,  no  word  of  farewell, 
not  even  the  earth  for  cover.  All  these  had  he,  Lee 
Whelan,  first  to  lay  him  down  for  aye  within  the  camp, 
first  there  to  be  accorded  Military  Honors  at  his  burial, 
with  rites  performed  by  the  first  priest  assigned  to  this 
cantonment,  Rev.  Augustine  Dinand,  S.  J. 

The  regimental  chaplain,  Lieut.  George  Lacombe,  is 
American  for  several  generations,  though  his  French  name 
means  the  ravine,  a  glacial  cut  in  the  Alps  near  Dijon, 
the  family  birthplace  'way  back.  He  has  Irish  blood,  too, 
as  you  will  guess.  His  father's  father  was  the  first  white 
born  in  San  Francisco.  George  followed  his  example  as 
late  as  1886,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that 
city,  in  St.  Patrick's  Seminary,  Menlo  Park,  ordained  in 
1910,  took  a  post-graduate  course  at  Stanford  University 
the  next  year,  and  was  first  stationed  at  St.  Mary's 
Cathedral,  Menlo  Park,  afterward  at  the  old  Mission 
Dolores,  the  district  from  which  most  of  the  men  of  the 
347th  were  drafted.  "Why  I  knew  them  all,  their  famil- 
ies, the  very  saloons  they  frequented,  the  Old  Mission 
boys."  That  knowledge,  coupled  with  his  keen  sense  of 
humor,  is  what  gives  Lieut.  Lacombe  his  hold  on  the  men. 
A  chaplain  without  a  sense  of  humor  should  resign,  or 
rather  should  never  be  appointed.  A  test  as  to  this  quali- 
fication should  be  part  of  every  candidate's  examination. 
Father  Lacombe  speaks  French  as  his  mother  tongue. 
He  has  been  in  the  priesthood  eight  years. 

But  Lacombe  is  as  well  acquainted   in   the  millionaire 
colony.     He  is  the  "Father  George"  so  often  mentioned 


CAMP  LEWIS 


261 


LEE   WHELAN,    FIRST   TO    BE   BURIET)   AT    CAMP   LEWIS 

in  that  delightful  Letters  of  Harry  Butters.  He  was  an 
intimate  of  that  family,  who  figured  in  the  upbuilding  of 
the  Transvaal.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Olympic  Club  and 
of  the  exclusive  Family  Club  of  San  Francisco,  the  only 
clergyman  ever  elected  to  it,  though,  to  its  members,  the 
term  used  is,  "adopted  into  the  Family." 

As  soon  as  We  went  into  the  war  Father  Lacombe 
applied  for  a  chaplaincy  and  he  insists  that  the  happiest 
day  of  his  life  was  the  day  he  donned  the  uniform  of  his 
country  and  the  next  happiest,  the  day  he  joined  his 
"Mission  boys  of  the  347th  at  Camp  Lewis,  Nov.  10,  1917." 

The  regimental  surgeon,  Maj.  N.  M.  Benyas  was  a 
prominent  Portland  surgeon.  The  other  medical  officers 


262 


THE  NINETY-FIRST 


*    *' 


CHAPLAIN   LACOMBB    AND   MAJ.    BUNYAS 

are  First  Lieut.,  now  Capt.  W.  A.  Monroe,  a  Tacoma 
surgeon,  Lieut.  Partlow,  of  Olympia,  and  Lieut.  Skaggs, 
from  Tennessee.  Three  of  the  young  officers  of  the 
347th  are  locally  known.  Lieut.  Corydon  Wagner  in- 


CAMP  LEWIS  263 

troduced  his  friend,  Lieut.  Archibald  Munro  Edwards  of 
Santa  Barbara,  to  his  sister  Miss  Martha,  who  subse- 
quently changed  her  name  to  that  of  Edwards,  and  Miss 
Harriet  Smith  of  Tacoma  married  Lieut.  Frank  S.  Buck- 
ley. Both  weddings  occured  just  before  the  Division  left 

********** 

THE  348TH   HEAVY  ARTILLERY. 

Until  this  war  which,  oddly,  though  four  years  old,  is 
still  un-named,  battles  were  fought  in  the  open.  At  the 
stirring  call  of  the  bugles,  flags  flying  before  every  Com- 
pany, martial  bands  inspiring  the  attack,  Cavalry  rushed 
into  action,  sabers  flashing  like  steel  sunbeams,  horses 
eager  as  riders.  Followed  Infantry,  uniformed  in  blue, 
red,  green,  gleaming  with  brass  buttons  and  buckles,  of- 
ficers gay  with  gold  braid,  conspicuous  with  drawn  swords. 
All  is  changed.  Behind  wire  entanglements,  like  rats  in 
traps,  burrowed  in  trenches  secret  and  dark  as  the  forty 
years'  preparation  of  the  Germans:  in  uniforms  toned 
to  the  dun  of  the  earth,  with  not  so  much  as  a  shining 
button  for  fuse,  officers  like  unto  men:  their  swords,  sung 
for  ages,  dull-hanging  upon  faraway  walls:  the  bugles' 
throat  aching  with  calls  they  may  not  sound:  for  music, 
only  the  boom  of  the  guns  and  the  shriek  of  shells,  a 
diapason  of  hate,  and  not  a  flag  to  follow  gloriously  to 
victory,  not  one,  save  the  tiny  treasured  colors  in  the 
pocket  over  a  soldier's  heart!  The  Huns  have  stripped 
War  of  its  last  vestiges  of  Chivalry. 

Today  the  great  guns  await  the  signaled  orders  from 
the  report  of  aviator  scouts  to  open  their  terrific  bar- 
rage upon  the  enemy's  wire  and  works.  By  exact  meas- 
urements, a  line  of  guns  forms  an  unbroken  screen,  which 
batters  down  everything  before  it,  and  behind  which 
troops  advance,  machine-gunners  first,  to  take  up  the 
fire  at  closer  range.  Then  grenadiers,  automatic  riflemen, 
lastly,  the  body  of  Infantry,  firing  their  rifles  until,  close 
to  the  foe,  the  fighting  is  by  bayonet,  hand  to  hand. 

The  348th  is  the  Heavy  Artillery  regiment  of  the  three 
constituting  the  166th  F.  A.  Brigade,  and  is  commanded 


264 


THE  NINETY-FIRST 


COL.   BOTTOMS 


by  Col.  Samuel  F.  Bottoms  who  has  been  in  Artillery 
since  his  second  assignment  after  graduation  from  West 
Point  in  1897.  He  was  Captain  of  Artillery  Corps  1901, 
Major  of  Coast  Artillery  Corps  1907,  Quartermaster  1912. 


CAMP  LEWIS  265 

He  served  in  the  Spanish-American  war,  remaining  in 
the  Philippines  nearly  three  years.  He  had  charge  of 
the  selection  of  the  Second  Training  Camp  Officers  at  the 
Presidio  and  came  to  Camp  Lewis  the  end  of  August. 
Col.  Bottoms  is  from  a  family  established  in  Virginia 
long  before  the  Revolution.  The  uncle  for  whom  he  was 
named  was  a  captain  of  the  Civil  War,  from  Kentucky, 
where  the  Colonel  was  born.  Late  in  the  Spring  Col. 
Bottoms  attended  the  Officers  School  of  Fire  at  Fort  Sill. 
Artillery  is  wonderfully  different  in  this  early  20th 
Century  from  that  studied  at  the  First  School  of  Artil- 
lery established  early  in  the  16th  Century  at  Venice. 
Louis  XIV.  of  France  started  the  next;  England  not 
until  1741,  at  Woolwich.  The  first  in  this  Country  was 
at  Fortress  Monroe  in  1823,  nearly  a  hundred  years  ago. 
Col.  Bottoms  is  another  who  is  proud  of  his  regiment 
of  Westerners,  the  majority  of  whom  are  ranchers  from 
Montana  and  Utah.  Said  he,  "They  are  leaders.  Owen 
Wister  could  find  the  counterpart  of  the  Virginian  in 
every  squad  of  the  348th."  When  one  thinks  of  such  an 
encomium  from  a  Commanding  Officer,  and  hears  similar 
comments  upon  their  firing  efficiency,  noting  the  eager- 
ness of  the  men  to  learn  that  they  may  be  ready  for  the 
battlefront,  there  is  no  room  for  doubt  as  to  the  issue  of 
the  war,  especially  when  one  recalls  the  numbers  of  Prus- 
sian gunners  actually  found  by  victors  chained  to  their 
guns.  So  have  the  Teutons  turned  backward  two  thou- 
sand years  and  more,  to  the  rowers  of  the  Roman  galleys 
coupled  to  their  oars,  shackled  to  their  seats.  However, 
the  sight  of  those  gunners,  chained  like  wild  beasts  by 
their  masters,  has  done  much  for  victory  to  the  Allies. 
//  they  would  do  that  to  their  own — / 

Until  motorizing  is  complete,  the  guns  at  Camp  Lewis 
are  horse-drawn,  six  horses  to  a  cannon,  harnessed,  and 
an  extra,  ridden  by  a  corporal.  These  animals  are,  of 
course,  the  care  of  the  Artillerists.  One  of  these  is  Wil- 
fred Killham  of  Battery  A,  who  last  year  won  the  title 
of  World's  Amateur  Champion  in  contest  riding  at 
Cheyenne's  Frontier  Days  Celebration.  His  very  name  is 
a  battle  cry. 


266 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CAMP  LEWIS  267 

The  348th  boasts  many  horsemen,  some  of  the  famous 
Montana  riders  not  snatched  by  the  Remount,  so  the 
regiment  put  on  the  First  Rodeo  at  Camp  Lewis,  a  great 
success,  in  the  Fall. 

Watching  drill  with  the  limbers  one  day — a  limber 
is  the  two  wheels  and  a  harnessing  shaft  which  carries 
the  caisson,  or  ammunition  case  for  a  cannon — a  heavy 
young  fellow  was  particularly  interested  and  interesting. 
In  such  drill,  "Every  little  movement  has  a  meaning  all 
its  own,"  and  this  fellow's  pleasure  in  his  newly  acquired 
agility  was  apparent.  When  he  had  dismounted,  run, 
mounted  and  sat,  with  his  arms  folded,  before  the  others, 
a  broad  grin  would  spread  over  his  face  and  run  over  to 
ours.  A  youngster  like  that  is  chained  to  his  gun  by  his 
cause.  There  are  eighteen  of  these  caissons  to  a  company, 
two  to  a  section  under  a  sergeant.  That  smiling  young 
fellow  will  be  wearing  chevrons  by  now.  Stay-at-homes 
who  follow  your  boys  in  mind,  speak  more  French  than 
some  of  you  know,  for  so  many  army  words  are  French — 
chevron  is;  it  means  rafters.  The  connection  is  not  clear 
till  you  remember  it  is  a  heraldry  term.  When  a  man 
accomplished  some  difficult  thing  he  "established  his  house" 
which,  upon  his  shield,  was  signified  by  the  two  joined 
rafters  of  a  literal  roof.  In  the  army,  a  man's  shield  is 
now  his  own  good  arm,  and  that  is  where  his  chevron  is 
placed  to  show  his  advance. 

At  the  battlefront,  already,  an  auto  carries  ammuni- 
tion as  far  as  possible  to  the  firing  line,  then  caissons 
to  the  guns,  where  the  men  stay  to  help  fire  if  needed  or 
return  with  empty  caissons  to  refill.  I  never  see  cais- 
sons now,  or  hear  the  soldiers  singing  of  them  in  that 
probably  oldest  song  in  our  army,  and  naturally  a  favorite 
in  the  Artillery,  that  I  do  not  recall  that  unknown,  curly 
headed  fellow — good  luck  to  him!  Another  stranger 
kindly  wrote  down  the  words  for  me  as  a  rollicking  troop 
sang  them  in  passing,  and  signed  the  paper,  Corp.  C.  C. 
Proctor,  Battery  A,  346th  F.  A.  So  you  may  add  your 
thanks  to  mine,  for  you  would  like  to  sing  what  your  boy 
does.  None  of  their  marching  songs  are  classic,  not  even — 


268  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

THE    CAISSON    SONG 

Over  hill,  over  dale,  as  we  hit  the  dusty  trail 

And  the  caissons  are  rolling  along, 

In  and  out,  hear  them  shout,  "Counter  march"  or  "Right 
about," 

As  the  caissons  go  rolling  along. 

Chorus. 

For  it's  Hi,  Hi,  Hee;  For  the  Field  Artiller-y; 
Sound  off  your  numbers  loud  and  strong. 
Where'er  you  go,  you  will  always  know 
That  the  caissons  are  rolling  along — 
(Bellowed)   Keep  Them  Rolling — 
That  the  caissons  are  rolling  along. 


In  the  stprm  in  the  night,  Action  left  or  Action  Right, 

Still  the  caissons  go  rolling  along; 

Action  Front  or  Action  Rear,  prepare  to  mount,  you  can- 
noneer, 

As  the  caissons  go  rolling  along. 

The  Heavy  Artillery  was  the  heaviest  investor,  per 
capita,  of  all  Camp  Lewis  units,  to  the  second  Liberty 
Loan. 

Col.  Bottoms'  regimental  officers  were  working  with 
smoke  bombs  one  day,  computing  ranges.  Targets  two- 
thousand  yards,  something  over  a  mile  away,  showed  white 
against  a  ridge.  The  telephone  section  had  stretched  a 
wire  from  a  nearby  tree  to  a  position  near  the  targets. 
A  young  officer  with  a  small  measure  stick  a  few  inches 
long  would  sight  the  target  somewhat  in  the  same  way, 
only  in  a  horizontal  position,  that  an  artist  sizes  with  his 
brush.  He  would  turn  to  the  telephone  box  behind  him 
and  call  his  conclusions,  range,  elevation,  transverse.  The 
operator  would  then  'phone  over  to  the  targets  and  re- 
peat the  directions  for  target  No.  5,  say,  and  the  powder 


CAMP  LEWIS  269 

at  that  point  would  be  touched  off.  A  puff  of  smoke  would 
rise,  perhaps  before,  perhaps  beyond,  the  indicated  target, 
to  the  right  or  the  left.  If  so  his  "shot"  had  failed  and 
the  officer  would  correct  his  computations  and  turn  to 
the  telephone  to  announce  them.  A  third  trial  might 
result  in  a  "shot"  striking  the  target  if  the  smoke-bomb 
rose  before  it.  In  the  meanwhile  all  the  other  officers 
watched  closely.  Before  another  man  directed  the  fire, 
the  targets,  which  stood  like  sign  boards,  were  shifted, 
so  that  the  problem  was  changed  for  every  man.  There 
were  fourteen  of  the  smoke  pots,  with  their  attendants. 
The  amount  of  powder  used  in  these  experimnts  is  in- 
considerable as  compared  with  cannon  shells,  yet  the 
mathematics  involved  for  the  officers,  the  same. 

If  you  are  allowed  upon  the  Artillery  Range,  the  varied 
training  is  most  interesting  to  watch.  Practice  is  best, 
because  most  difficult  to  compute,  in  the  wind,  which  ac- 
commodatingly blows  often  across  the  prairie.  Every 
gun  fires  a  certain  projectile  at  a  certain  elevation  and 
certain  range,  like  every  other  gun  of  same  model  and 
like  range,  and  as  this  data  is  all  complied  and  set  down 
upon  range  tables — 

"Simple,  isn't  it?  You  just  learn  your  range  table 
as  you  did  the  multiplication  table  and" — 

"And  it's  exactly  like  predicting  what  one  woman  will 
do  because  you  are  aware  of  what  another  one  did  under 
similar  circumstances:  it  can't  be  did."  That's  what  one 
means  by  being  all  balled  up,  and  that's  what  Ballistics 
means,  the  science  of  projectiles  hurled  under  all  con- 
ditions. The  range  tables  forget,  if  they  ever  knew,  that 
the  earth  is  round  and  revolves,  and  that  wind  ever  blows, 
and  a  few  other  such  trifles.  So  every  firing  party  is 
designed  to  introduce  the  Artillery  man  to  a  new  gun- 
woman,  to  learn  her  point  of  view,  so  to  speak. 

From  Gen.  Burr  down,  they  do  not  talk  on  the  Artillery 
Range;  men  do  the  thinking  and  let  the  cannon  fire  their 
remarks.  It  is  serious  business,  gunnery,  in  this  war,  to  be 
learned  hard  and  fast.  Most  of  the  practice  even  for  the 
Heavy  Artillery  regiment  has  been  with  the  three-inch 


270 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


guns.  Thought  part  of  the  time  four-point-sevens  have  been 
at  camp.  Problems  are  the  same.  Men  have  been  trained  in 
salvo  firing  which  constitutes  a  barrage  when  set  at  com- 
puted distances  and  simultaneously  fired,  a  fence  and  de- 
fense of  flame,  discharging  great  shells  as  accurately  as 
a  sniper's  rifle  its  bullets,  though  the  gunner  sights  at 
nothing  alive,  only  at  an  area,  and  the  latter  picks  his 


THE  FIRING  SIGNAL 

man.  A  gunner,  second-class,  wears  a  shell  upon  his 
sleeve  for  insignia,  with  a  bar  below  it  if  he  is  first-class 
gunner,  and  a  chief  mechanic  of  Field  Artillery  has  a 
palm  under  the  crossed  hammers.  At  camp  it  was  the 
raised  arm  of  the  Commanding  Officer  which  was  watched. 
When  it  fell,  instantaneously  the  guns  blazed.  Of  the 
firing  records  one  may  not  speak,  but  be  it  said  that  the 
166th  Field  Artillery  Brigade  will  give  good  account  of 
itself  in  the  days  to  come. 

The  Artillerists  wish  there  were  a  half-tone  here  of 
the  face  of  one  of  their  young  officers  "registering  be- 
wilderment," one  day  on  the  range.  Sighting  a  small 
white  house  in  the  distance,  he  computed  an  angle,  and 
the  shot  did  not  strike  within  a  row  of  apple-trees,  or 


CAMP  LEWIS  271 

rather  an  orchard,  of  the  mark.  Chagrined,  he  revised 
the  computation  which  itself  was  divergent,  with  result 
even  worse.  The  Battery  stood  and  stared,  until  a  man 
said,  "I  believe  that  house  is  moving."  Absurd,  agreed 
the  others,  but  they  went  to  see,  and  that  was  just  what 
was  happening.  It  was  in  the  early  days  at  camp,  when 
several  small  buildings  were  removed  from  the  reserva- 
tion, and  to  his  relief  the  Artillery-man  found  "it  was  a 
case  of  government  mules,  not  an  Artillery  Jackass." 

Leaving  the  range,  it  was  amusing  to  hear  the  rail- 
lery of  the  red-cord-cannon-men  against  the  blue-cord- 
rifles-men  who  had  been  watching,  "We'll  cover  you,  In- 
fants. You  fellows  don't  dare  poke  up  your  heads  till  we 
begin  firing."  Jokes  and  song  help  along,  the  348th  has 
plenty  of  both.  Phil  Garn's  voice  belongs  to  them,  and 
a  Colonel  with  a  sense  of  humor,  almost  as  important  as 
logarithms.  An  old  army  man,  though  a  young  one,  the 
Colonel  saw  enough  fun  in  the  first  days  of  the  camp  to 
keep  from  exhaustion.  The  second  day,  new  arrivals  were 
lined  up,  patronizingly  watched  by  veterans  of  the  day 
before. 

"Cover  Off,"  shouted  the  regular  army  Sergeant.  Now 
it  seems  that  means  to  double  lines  by  every  other  man's 
stepping  to  the  rear.  The  recruits  stared  blankly  till  the 
inevitable  leader,  who  shortly  uprises  from  any  group, 
removed  his  hat,  whereupon  the  others  followed  suit,  and 
the  seasoned  soldiers  of  yesterday  guffawed  at  the  ignor- 
ance of  "those  rookies." 

The  story  recalls  an  incident  which  occurred  in  the 
early  days  of  the  camp  when  the  negro  troops  were  sta- 
tioned there,  and  which  threatened  an  ignominous  death 
to  an  officer  of  the  348th  F.  A.  Returning  from  the  city, 
he  was  challenged  by  a  sentry  as  dark  as  the  night.  "Who 
goes  there?"  He  replied. 

"Who  goes  there?"     He  replied  somewhat  impatiently. 

"Who  goes  there?" 

"What  do  you  mean  by  challenging  me  over  and  over? 
Are  you  a  cuckoo  or  a  sentry?" 

"A  sentry,  sah,  an'  ma  ohdas  am,  challenge  three  times 
an'  then  shoot,"  and  the  gleam  on  a  raised  rifle  barrel 


272  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

indicated  that  he  was  about  to  carry  out  the  second  part 
of  his  "ohdas." 

To  return,  as  the  officer  did  eventually  to  Artillery,  it 
is  marvelous  what  the  Ordnance  Department  has  already 
accomplished  in  supplying  all  the  cantonments  and  troops 
abroad.  Germany  had  been  prepared  for  more  than  a 
generation.  At  first  the  Allies  lacked  both  guns  and 
munitions,  so  did  we,  yet  United  States  Representative 
Medill  McCormick  asserts  that  at  the  battle  of  Chemin 
Des  Dames — what  a  terrible  road  for  the  Ladies,  even  for 
the  dauntless  Scotch — so  dubbed  by  Teutons — "at  Chemin 
Des  Dames  there  was  a  gun  for  every  three  or  four 
yards  of  front  attacked,  and  three  artillerymen  to  every 
two  infantrymen  engaged.'"  When  the  English  fought 
against,  instead  of  with,  the  French  on  the  Somme,  at 
Crecy,  nearly  five-hundred-seventy  years  before,  the 
former  boasted  three  small  brass  cannon. 

One  of  regimental  Headquarters  group  is  always,  alas 
and  alack,  the  guard  house.  Its  occupants  wear  blue 
denim,  and,  if  not  held  for  serious  offenses,  are  put  to 
work  outside,  always  under  guard  of  a  soldier.  Military 
Police  arrest  offenders  and  march  them  to  another  part 
of  the  camp.  Why  not  place  them  in  the  guard  house  of 
their  own  company? 

"Because  they  would  be  guarded  by  their  fellows  in 
that  case,  and  they  would  not,  perhaps,  receive  the  dis- 
cipline intended.  Soldiers  form  strong  friendships,  it's 
just  as  well  not  to  tax  them. 

Lieut.  Stephen  F.  Barren,  chaplain  of  the  348th,  was 
born  in  San  Francisco  but  at  three  years  taken  back  to 
his  parents'  former  home  in  Ireland  where  his  education 
was  begun.  Returning  to  California,  he  attended  Sacred 
Heart  College  and  the  Seminary  at  Menlo  Park.  He  has 
been  assistant  pastor  at  Centerville  and  at  Holy  Redeemer, 
San  Francisco.  He  came  as  chaplain  to  Camp  Lewis  in 
November.  Beside  his  religious  work,  he  organized  base- 
ball teams  for  the  348th,  managed  several  dancing  parties, 
put  on  a  play — Not  in  the  Regular  Army — he  has  always 
been  interested  in  drama,  and  taught  English  to  a  class 
of  eighty  Aliens  in  the  regiment. 


CAMP   LEWIS 


273 


LIEUT.  STEPHEN  BARRON 

An  Artillery  Brigade  consists  of  three  regiments  of 
Artillery  and  a  Trench  Mortar  Battery.  As  was  shown, 
progressive  fire  from  the  lightest — rifle  Infantry,  and 
automatics,  hand  grenades  and  machine  guns; — goes  over 
into  long-distance  heavier  work  to  Trench  Mortars,  Light 
and  Heavy  Artillery;  in  battle,  reversing  this  order  by 
beginning  with  demolishing  by  Heavy  Artillery.  A  Trench 
Mortar  does  not  in  the  least  resemble  its  name,  which 
suggests  its  first  shape  when  invented  near  the  end  of 
the  16th  Century,  an  inverted  mortar  or  bell,  firing  a  large 
round  shell  which  burst  when  it  fell.  Instead,  a  Trench 
Mortar  is  a  short  gun,  firing  bombs  instead  of  cartridges 
like  a  machine  gun,  and  shooting  vertically  instead  of 
horizontally.  Bombs  can  be  fired  at  great  range.  In  their 

§  19 


274 


THE   NINETY-FIRST- 


CAPT.  MAWDSLEY 

long  preparation  for  this  war  to  be  "forced"  upon  them, 
the  Germans  were  supplied  with  great  numbers  of  this 
terrible  ordnance,  but  the  Allies  have  rushed  their  manu- 
facture, and  training  in  their  use  was  added  to  that  of 
our  National  Army.  The  insignia  for  Ordnance  is  a 
bursting  bomb — 

"There,  I  told  you  that  was  not  intended  for  a  bowl 
of  pussy  willows,  and  you  said  it  looked  like  a  Japanese 
bronze  bowl,  and  that  the  Japanese  buttons  and  cannon 
bear  chrysanthemums" — Well,  anyway,  it's  a  bomb. 

Capt.  Harold  Pease  commands  the  316th  Trench  Mortar 
Battery  of  the  166th  F.  A.  Brigade.  As  this  is  a  new 
development  in  Ordnance,  experts  who  had  distinguished 


CAMP  LEWIS  275 

themselves  in  that  service  in  this  war  were  detailed  to 
assist  in  the  training. 

Capt.  E.  W.  Mawdsley  of  the  Manchester  Regiment 
and  Trench  Mortar  Battery,  with  his  assistant  instructor, 
Sergt.  H.  Lewis,  was  assigned  to  the  166th  Brigade. 
Like  all  the  detail,  he  is  young,  and  a  true-to-type 
fighting  Briton.  Surely  the  only  unsmiling  hour  he 
ever  passed  here  was  that  in  which  this  picture  was 
taken.  He  possessed  a  sense  of  humor  quite  Ameri- 
can, which  has  doubtless  pulled  him  through  many  a  tight 
place.  This  was  shown  in  a  bright  talk  he  gave  before 
the  Nurses'  Association.  Wounded  severely,  he  was  taken 
to  a  hospital  just  behind  the  lines  and  a  bath  ordered  for 
him.  "Thanks  awfully,"  said  I,  "But  I  don't  believe  I 
can  have  one,  both  arms  and  hands  are  rather  badly  hurt. 
But,  you  know  nurses,  I  had  the  bath." 

"That  evening  I  was  transferred  to  a  hospital  further 
back.  'Give  him  a  bath,'  said  the  nurse.  But  I've  just  had 
one,  said  I.  No  go:  bath  number  two.  I  was  taken  to 
a  seaport  to  be  shipped  home  and,  awaiting  the  transport, 
the  nurse,  despite  protests  I  knew  to  be  futile,  gave  me 
bath  number  three,  within  fifteen  hours.  Crossing  the 
channel,  one  of  the  men  said,  'Mawdsley,  lay  you  a  sov- 
ereign we'll  have  another  bath  the  minute  we  arrive.' 
That  I  did  not  take  him  showed  my  wisdom,  for  a  fourth 
bath  greeted  us,  the  fourth  within  twenty-four  hours;  I 
should  have  taken  a  wager  that  we  were  the  cleanest  men 
in  the  empire." 

Capt.  Mawdsley  was  a  great  favorite  and  the  officers 
of  the  Ninety-First  had  hoped  for  his  company  Over-seas, 
but  he  was  ordered  to  Camp  Fremont.  Later,  then,  and 
after  the  peace! 


276  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

THE  ENGINEER  CORPS — COL.  JEWETT  AND  HIS  COLUMBIA 
RIVER  JETTYS — CAPT.  POWELL  AND  THE  TOPOGRAPHICAL 
MAP — ENGINEERS'  WONDERFUL  ACCOMPLISHMENTS — TWO 
ADJUTANTS — TWO  DEPARTMENTS  ADDED  TO  ENGINEER 
CORPS — CAPT.  KEEN  AND  BRIDGE  WORK — RIFLE-WORK 
AND  BEAR-WALKING — FIRST  ENGINEER  IN  GUARD  HOUSE 
— PICKED  MEN — LIEUT.  BATAL — A  MULE  SKINNER- 
ENGINEER  TRAIN  AND  DEPOT — A  LITERAL  RETREAT- 
CHAPLAIN  LUTZ  AND  HIS  NEW  HOPE — GERMAN  SENSIBLE. 

Of  an  Army,  that  composite  body  formed  of  millions 
of  individuals,  Engineers  are  the  spirit,  the  genius,  the 
innate  propelling  power.  They  are  both  the  "engine,  any- 
thing used  to  effect  a  purpose,"  and  its  driver.  So  wonder- 
ful are  their  achievements  that  they  might  be  those  of 
genii  were  it  necessary  to  rise  above  Man,  created  "a 
little  lower  than  the  angels."  Only  the  fallen  need  Superman. 

American  Engineers  were  brought  up  on  railroads 
whose  difficulties  seemed  insuperable,  spanning  canyons, 
climbing  mountains,  bridging  cataracts;  upon  building 
jettys  which  say  to  the  Tide,  "Thus  far  shalt  thou  come 
and  no  farther,"  raising  a  whole  city-level  and  protecting 
it,  the  only  walled  city  in  our  free  Country,  from  the  Sea 
itself.  American  Engineers  have  accomplished  what  others 
have  abandoned  in  despair,  witness  the  Panama  Canal. 
Ingenuity — cousin-word — is  a  characteristic  of  the  Na- 
tional mind. 

What  United  States  of  America  Engineers  have  ac- 
complished abroad  during  this  first  year  of  the  war  is  the 
marvel  of  Europe,  but  consider  the  Corps  we  have  sent 
there.  To  begin  with,  honor  graduates  of  the  United 


CAMP  LEWIS 


277 


COL.    JEWETT 


States  Military  Academy,  West  Pointers  which  supply  our 
regular  army  with  officers,  are  always  appointed  in  the 
order. of  their  standing,  to  the  Engineers.  When  the  re- 
quired number  of  Second-Lieutenants  has  been  supplied 


278  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

them;  the  next  ranking  graduates  are  attached  to  Artil- 
lery. Construction  is  so  much  above  destruction. 

When  a  man  is  Colonel  of  Engineers,  it  is  safe  to  look 
up  to  him  as  one  who  has  accomplished  something  for 
the  world's  betterment,  though  you  would  not  be  apt  to 
learn  that  from  him,  especially,  if  he  were  Col.  Henry  C. 
Jewett.  In  his  case,  ten  to  one,  he  would,  instead,  show 
you  a  huge  topographical  map,  the  work  of  that  depart- 
ment under  him,  upon  which,  if  you  were  as  dull  as  I, 
you  would  gaze  admiringly  but  perplexedly. 

Henry  C.  Jewett  was  appointed  from  New  York  to 
West  Point,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1901.  Of 
course  he  was  in  the  Islands,  among  the  Moros,  and  all 
that,  and  he  was  instructor  at  West  Point  in  chemistry 
and  electricity  for  five  years  from  1907.  He  was  Major 
before  being  ordered  to  organize  and  command  the  316th 
Engineer  Corps  at  Camp  Lewis. 

Quite  casually,  Col.  Jewett  mentioned  that  from  1915 
to  1917  he  has  been  engaged  upon  construction  work. 
Well  yes,  as  an  Englishman  would  say,  quite  so,  quite  so. 
The  fact  is,  that  in  those  two  years  he  had  succeeded  in 
redeeming,  constructing,  completing  an  all  but  impossible 
work,  the  jettys  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  River. 
Even  American  Engineers  had  hitherto  failed  upon  this 
project  which  had  been  begun  years  ago,  but  which  could 
not  withstand  the  bombardment  of  waves  from  without, 
and  the  internal  terredo  sappers  and  miners,  like  a  city 
besieged  by  aliens  and  rotten  with  treason.  One  does 
not  need  to  be  a  seaman,  but  only  to  have  crossed  the 
Columbia  bar,  to  know  something  of  the  marvel  of  that 
accomplishment — "From  1915  till  1917?  Oh,  I  was  en- 
gaged in  construction  work." 

One  end  of  this  jetty  is  two  and  a  quarter  miles  long. 
The  old  one  at  the  South,  which  would  not  withstand  the 
terrific  wave  action,  but  must  and  did,  is  six  miles  long. 
Hearing  of  this,  a  man  who  had  watched  construction  of 
the  Eads  jetty  of  the  Mississippi,  said  that,  after  a  storm, 
he  had  seen  a  block  of  concrete,  two  and  a  half  by  five, 
by  a  score  of  feet,  which  had  been  bodily  lifted  by  the 
power  of  the  waters.  Rubble  was  used  on  the  Columbia. 


CAMP   LEWIS  279 

Col.  Jewett  looks  like  the  man  to  pit  himself  against 
the  forces  of  Nature,  tall,  sinewy,  still,  yet  with  the  power 
of  a  magnet  to  attract  steel  to  steel.  That  is  why  he  gets 
so  much  out  of  his  men,  because  he  gives  it.  There  is 
not  an  officer  in  the  316th  Engineers  that  is  not  a  bigger 
man  because  of  association  with  Col.  Jewett,  and  there  is 
not  a  man  in  the  Corps  who  has  not  felt  the  impulse  of 
the  organization.  That  is  almost  as  great  an  achievement 
as  building  the  Columbia  jetty,  giving  a  life-urge  to  hun- 
dreds of  men,  hundreds  to  "carry  on." 

No  wonder  the  United  States  Engineers  have  done 
decades  of  work  in  a  twelvemonth  in  France,  fringing  sea- 
ports with  great  piers  and  wharves,  and  acres  of  ware- 
houses ;  running  to  them  hundreds  of  miles  of  railroad 
to  convey  their  American  stores  to  the  battle  front;  build- 
ing bridges  and  rebuilding  before  the  Huns  have  scarce 
finished  destroying  them;  constructing  roads  whereon  the 
Allies'  millions  may  march  rapidly  to  a  change  of  base; 
making  ready  sanitary  camps  with  sewerage  and  pure 
water  supply,  so  that  this  army  of  ours  is  the  first  which 
has  not  lost  more  men  by  disease  than  by  battle  and 
wounds;  designing  fortifications,  emplacements  for  artil- 
lery and  roads  to  move  it  to  them,  trenches;  camouflage 
to  conceal  them  all.  Shiploads  of  engineering  machinery 
went  with  our  first  Engineers.  Foresters  are  cutting  trees 
in  France  and  Engineers  superintending  building  canton- 
ments, hospitals, ^etc.,  and  electric  lighting  for  them.  That 
verse  in  the  Bible  which  was  so  hard  to  believe  is  easy 
now,  "If  ye  have  faith —  ye  shall  say  unto  this  mountain, 
be  ye  removed."  Engineers  have  both  faith  and  works, 
and  when  the  316th  goes  across  there  will  be  a  distinct 
addition  .to  both. 

For  the  most  part,  the  men  of  the  316th  Engineer 
Corps  enlisted  at  once,  resigning  good  positions,  some 
very  important  ones  drawing  large  salaries,  to  go  as  pri- 
vate, knowing  the  crying  need  for  Engineers,  Civil  as 
well  as  Military,  and  the  long  technical  training  involved. 
Whole  Companies  are  college  graduates. 

The  castle  which  distinguishes  the  Engineers  is  one 
of  the  oldest  of  Army  insignia,  of  which,  to  a  man,  they 


280  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

are  very  proud.  This  makes  it  particularly  funny,  the 
story  an  Infantry-man  told.  It  seems  a  "rookie"  at  work 
in  a  nearby  corral  had  not  secured  the  insignia  which 
should  mark  him,  and  was  told  he  must  get  one  at  once. 
The  next  day  one  of  the  Engineer  officers  noticed  the 
"mule-skinner"  wearing  a  castle  and  inquired,  "What  are 
you  doing  with  that  castle?  You're  not  an  Engineer." 

"Castle?  Castle,  why  I  thought  it  was  a  stable." 

Lt.  Col.  A.  R.  Ehrnbeck,  since  Colonel,  was  in  charge 
of  the  preliminary  engineering  work  in  building  the  can- 
tonment, remaining  until  Spring.  You,  little  school  boy, 
grumbling  over  the  hated  map  making,  what  would  you 
say  to  one  which  shows  every  building  in  Camp  Lewis 
city,  down  to  a  coalshed?  If  you  want  to  belong  to  the 
Engineer  Corps  which  is  doing  such  wonders,  you  must 
conquer,  if  not  love,  your  enemy,  that  map,  for  the  United 
States  has  thousands  put  away  for  emergencies.  If  you 
were  with  Engineers  at  the  Front,  you  would  be  risking 
your  life  to  seek  out  the  lay  of  the  land,  to  survey  it  and 
draw  maps  of  it  that  you  might  prepare  most  direct  roads 
for  the  rushing  army,  avoiding  impediments  and  enemy 
connections;  discovering  water  supplies  which  your  genius 
would  secure,  and  lowlands  which  must  be  drained  before 
troops  come;  calculating  the  slope  for  sewerage — for  arm- 
ies in  these  days  do  not  lie  down  in  marshes  as  during 
the  Civil  War  they  might,  if  the  ironic  order  rang  there, 
"Halt  and  make  yourselves  comfortable  for  the  night." 

"Oh,  but  that's  different" — not  a  bit,  maps  are  used 
in  laying  out  camps,  did  you  read  how  Col.  Ehrnbeck  con- 
trived this  one?  Maps  are  used  every  day,  trenches  and 
fortifications  are  first  dug  and  built  on  paper.  Maps  are 
shorthand  notes  for  volumes  of  information. 

Now,  Small  Boy  and  Big  Boy,  you  will  have  more  com- 
prehension of  the  work  of  the  Topographical  Department 
of  the  Engineers  Corps  of  the  316th  under  Capt.  Orman 
Nimmons  Powell,  which  department  Col.  Erhnbeck  said 
he  considers  the  best  of  its  kind  in  the  Country.  There 
were  several  camps,  as  at  Roy,  and  Nisqually  where,  the 
Indians  had  complained,  the  cantonment  was  infringing 


CAMP   LEWIS 


281 


CAPT.    POWELL, 

upon  their  lands  and  the  Engineers  went  to  map  and  prove. 
This  locality  is  like  the  celebrated  Lake  Region  of  Scotland 
and  several  of  the  little  lakes  had  never  been  named.  The 
mappers  were  told  there  must  be  names  upon  their  drafts 
so  they  called  them,  as  Indians  used,  from  resemblances, 
Foot,  and  the  like.  Men  at  these  little  camps  lived  in  tents 
away  from  the  cantonment  and  there  did  the  work  as- 
signed them,  a  copy  of  which  remains  to  Camp  Lewis. 

Capt.  Powell  is  from  Georgia,  where  his  family  have 
lived  in  one  place  for  generations.  The  first  in  this  Coun- 
try, Capt.  William  Powell,  was  killed  in  1622  in  an  up- 
rising; another,  Col.  John.  P.  Williams,  fought  in  the 
Revolution,  as  did  Capt.  John  Cowart  who  was  one  of 


282  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Lafayette's  Expeditionary  Force  in  aid  of  America,  as 
Capt.  Powell  is  of  the  American  Expeditionary  Force  in 
aid  of  France,  nearly  two  centuries  later.  His  grand- 
father was  Captain  in  the  Civil  War,  and  his  father,  Capt. 
John  S.  Powell,  fought  in  Cuba  and  the  Philippines.  His 
family  on  his  mother's  side  was  represented  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  and  down,  with  a  Maj.  Storey  in  Indian  wars, 
a  Maj  .-Gen.  Storey  in  the  Indian  and  the  Mexican  wars, 
and  with  several,  on  both  sides  of  the  family,  officers  in 
the  Confederacy.  But,  as  someone  has  said,  "Blue  +  Gray 
=  Khaki."  In  the  case  of  Capt.  Powell  of  the  316th  it 
is  true.  His  father  remained  in  the  Philippines  for  years 
as  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  the  son,  who  had 
been  graduated  from  the  Alabama  Polytechnic  in  both 
civil  and  mining  engineering,  went  there  and  remained  for 
six  years  in  government  engineering  work,  though  not  in 
the  army. 

He  was  engaged  in  like  work  in  New  Mexico,  through 
the  fascinating  old  Pueblo  and  Cliffdweller  region,  when 
the  United  States  entered  the  war.  He  wrote, .to  Wash- 
ington at  once  offering  his  services  and  was  told  to  attend 
the  Presidio  Training  Camp,  whence  he  issued  Captain  of 
Engineers,  coming  at  once  to  Camp  Lewis,  where  he  was 
made  Chief  of  the  Topographical  Department.  And  Capt. 
Powell,  despite  his  gray  hair,  is  but  thirty-one. 

One  phase  of  his  work  is  preparing  maps  for  the  In- 
telligence officers  from  which  to  make  out  their  scouting 
problems.  Men  have  worked  for  sixteen  miles  around 
Camp  Lewis  and  up  the  Nisqually  with  its  superb  canyon 
and  wire  cable  cage,  like  that  used  over  great  gorges  by 
the  Italians  in  this  war.  The  Engineers  also  mapped  for 
Company  and  Regimental  hikes  and  the  Division  Practice 
March.  At  the  Front  the  obtaining  of  Military  maps  is 
one  of  the  exciting  parts  of  their  many-sided  work. 

The  principal  thing  accomplished  by  Capt.  Powell's 
department,  however,  was  that  immense  topographical 
map,  twelve  by  sixteen  feet,  which  was  completed  during 
the  training  of  the  316th.  This  map  showing  "the  contour 
of  the  earth  upon  a  plane  surface,"  resembles — the  En- 


CAMP  LEWIS  283 

gineer  Corps  will  resent  this, — one  of  those  economical 
magazine  patterns  which  have  all  their  parts  traced  upon 
one  bewildering  sheet.  I  always  respected  a  person  who 
could  understand  that  pattern,  so  to  gain  information  from 
a  topographical  map  seems  almost  as  wonderful  as  tech- 
nical surveying,  reducing  to  scale  of  400  feet  to  the  inch, 
and  drawing  one.  What  can  be  the  use  of  showing  every 
five-foot  rise  of  ground  if  you  don't  expect  to  fight  over  it, 
legally  or  otherwise?  Still  the  Belgians  did  not  expect 
to  fight  over  their  country  either,  and  trust  the  Engineers 
for  knowing  their  own  business  and  energetically  attend- 
ing to  it.  Why  even  their  mascot  is  named  Joffre.  The 
Engineers  say  they  have  been  so  busy  that,  except  for 
their  one  handsome  dance,  they  have  not  been  able  to 
enjoy  the  frequent  socialities  of  some  units.  Probably 
this  accounts  for  Joffre's  uncompromising  attitude  toward 
women.  He  should  have  been  named  Kitchener,  for,  amia- 
ble to  a  fault  with  men,  he  is  all  but  vicious  to  any- 
thing in  skirt.  Capt.  Powell  will  admit  that  Joffre  is 
amiable  to  a  fault  because  his  was  the  only  door  in  of- 
ficers' quarters  which  will  push  open,  and  Joffre,  having 
discovered  this,  persists  in  bunking  with  the  Captain,  who 
regrets  that  he  will  not  be  able  to  take  Joffre  to  France 
for  a  footwarmer  in  the  trenches. 

Capt.  Jules  E.  Hanique  was  Adjutant  of  the  316th 
until  its  departure,  when  Capt.  Powell  was  assigned  to 
that  office.  The  former  was  born  in  Paris  and  speaks 
Flemish  as  well  as  French.  He  was  one  of  the  board  to 
examine  men  of  the  Division  for  fitness  in  Interpreter 
Service  overseas. 

It  was  through  this  interpeter's  corps  that  Eugene 
Malfait,  after  wearisome  waiting,  obtained  his  chance  for 
active  service  overseas.  He  has  a  terrible  account  to 
settle,  beyond  one  man's  power,  but  he  is  one  man  who 
will  give  his  life  to  it.  Born  in  Belgium,  he  had,  when 
war  broke  out,  more  than  eighty  relatives  living  there, 
many  of  them  prominent  in  official  life,  some  in  literature 
and  art.  He  was  a  postman  in  Tacoma.  Malfait  en- 
deavored to  trace  those  relatives  and  learned  that  but  two 


284 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CAMP   LEWIS  285 

remained,  both  in  a  French  asylum,  the  mother,  wife  of 
the  mayor  of  a  Belgium  town,  was  insane  from  horrors 
and  loss,  and  her  daughter  was  with  her,  while  all  the 
rest  were  either  dead  or  prisoners  in  Germany.  He  en- 
listed with  an  ambulance  Company,  expecting  to  go  at 
once  to  France.  Instead,  he  was  ordered  to  Camp  Lewis 
Base  Hospital,  and  detailed  as  postmaster  there!  This 
was  hard,  but  Sergeant  Malfait  bided  his  time,  and  when 
the  Interpreters'  Board  invited  applicants,  he  was  exam- 
ined and  obtained  a  Second-Lieutenant's  commission.  Now 
he  will  begin  paying  his  debt  to  the  Hun. 

Adjutant  Hanique  was  the  only  unenthusiastic  En- 
gineer. "Build  a  bridge,"  they  tell  us.  But  there  is  neither 
wood  nor  stone  at  hand.  "Build  that  bridge!"  Well,  isn't 
that  the  wonderful  thing  about  being  an  Engineer,  con- 
triving, doing  things  one  way  if  you  can't  another,  able 
to  "make  bricks  without  straw."  Their  accomplishments 
recall  the  assurance  of  a  courtier  to  Louis  XIV,  "Sire" — 
just  drop  the  e  for  equals — "if  it  is  possible  it  shall  be 
done  today;  if  it  is  impossible,  tomorrow." 

Speaking  of  Adjutants  recalls  Adjutant  Brizou,  one  of 
the  French  instructors  assigned  to  the  316th  as  expert  on 
bridges.  Everybody  asks  of  what  organization  he  is  ,Ad- 
jutant.  It  seems  that  in  the  French  army  it  is  not  an 
office  but  a  rank,  and  that  a  queer  one,  for  he  is  neither 
a  commissioned  nor  a  non-commissioned  officer,  betwixt 
and  between  for  honor.  He  is  a  veteran  of  the  early  days 
of  the  great  war  and  decorated,  as  all  the  French  detail, 
for  bravery.  He  is  of  the  6  me  Genie  in  his  own  country. 
Their  word  for  Engineers  shows  plainly  the  connection 
with  genius  and  ingenuity.  It  seems  odd  that  in  this 
branch,  the  United  States  army  should  need  instruction; 
still,  this  war  is  new  to  every  phase  of  destruction,  and 
construction  must  keep  rapid  pace  with  it. 

Col.  Jewett  grouped  the  activities  of  the  Engineer 
Corps  into  recognizance,  bridgework,  fortifications  and 
demolition.  But  as  if  the  multitudinous  affairs  so  classi- 
fied were  not  enough,  two  other  departments  have  been 
added  to  the  Engineers.  Training  troops  in  the  military 


286 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


,  ADJ.    BRIZOU 

use  of  poisonous  gases  has  been  transferred  from  the 
Medical  Department  to  them ;  and  a  unit  new  to  all  armies 
has  been  added,  the  Tank.  It  certainly  is  not  a  classic 
name,  and  its  insignia,  the  same,  must  look  like  a  ranch 
tractor.  They  say  the  Britishers  burst  into  shouts  of 
laughter  when  the  first  ones  came  lumbering  along,  but 
the  Germans  did  not  join  in  the  merriment.  As  usual,  they 
made  frantic  attempts  to  capture  a  tank  to  copy  and  adapt. 
Our  ordnance  department  has  been  secretly  building  great- 
ly improved  tanks,  those  terrible  running  forts,  those 
landships  armored  and  belching  destruction  from  every 
port  hole. 

Capt.  Powell's  department  would  be  included  in  the 
first,  recognizance,  meaning,  literally,  to  know  again.  En- 
gineers seek  information  and  map  it  for  use  in  military 
movements  and  stratagems. 

Bridge  work  of  the  316th  Engineers  was  in  charge 
of  Capt.  Leavell  at  the  first,  but  he  was  ill  all  Winter  and 
his  place  was  taken  by  Lieut.  Delprat  Keen,  who  was 


CAMP  LEWIS  287 

promoted  to  the  Captaincy  in  time  to  take  his  company 
to  France.  Delprat  Keen  was  a  graduate  of  Stadium  High 
School,  Tacoma,  so  young  that  he  was  kept  out  of  school 
for  a  year  before  entering  Yale,  from  which,  Sheffield, 
he  was  graduated  when  but  twenty  years  old.  He  im- 
mediately entered  upon  responsible  engineering  positions. 
Feling  that  the  United  States  would  soon  be  at  war  and 
eager  to  be  in  at  the  first,  he  joined  the  Coast  Artillery. 
He  was  advised  to  enter  the  Presi.dio  and  did  so,  coming 
to  Camp  Lewis  as  First-Lieutenant 

It  was  "more  like  it"  in  Spring,  when  men  who  had 
begun  with  regular  Infantry  drill,  next  constructing 
bridges  over  nearby  rivers,  went  to  American  Lake  and 
built  their  first  pontoon  bridges.  First  they  must  learn 
to  manage  the  flat  boats  upon  which  the  bridge  is  laid 
and  some  of  the  men  had  never  held  an  oar,  as,  at  the 
beginning,  many  had  never  shot  a  rifle.  "You  would  never 
have  guessed  it,  though,"  boasted  Lieut.  Keen,  "why,  after 
only  a  few  days'  practice,  some  of  those  fellows  made  47 
in  50  at  500  yards,  then  45  in  50  at  600  yards,  and  15 
of  20  struck  the  bullseye." 

"How  big  was  a  bullseye  at  that  range?  Oh,  about 
front-sight  size.  That's  some  shooting,  at  the  start.  They 
did  better,  some  of  them.  Those  Enfield's  are  the  gun." 

American  markmanship  has  been  notable  since  pre- 
Revolutionary  days  when  sniping  Indians  was  in  vogue. 
You  remember  Daniel  Boone  and  his  musket  so  sure  that 
the  very  squirrel  knew  it  and  called  out  "Don't  shoot. 
I'll  come  down."  By  the  way,  a  lineal  descendant  of  his, 
Boone's  not  the  squirrel's,  was  a  corporal  at  Camp  Lewis 
for  awhile,  Clarence  Boone  of  the  316th  Engineers.  Men 
of  this  West  with  their  chance  at  nearby  big  game,  would 
naturally  lead  in  this,  and  the  frequency  of  the  badges 
for  markmanship  upon  blouses  shows  that  they  do.  In 
the  Spring,  each  Infantry  regiment  had  a  fortnight's  shoot- 
ing on  the  range,  in  "second  line"  trenches  with  sandbags 
half  way  to  the  top  and  a  firing  step  about  four  and  a 
half  feet  down.  So  many  of  the  Ninety-First  are  tall  men 
that  it  seems  they  will  be  obliged  to  use  a  trench  length- 


288 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CAPT.   DELPRAT   KEEN 


CAMP  LEWIS  289 

wise.  One  day  I  saw  .six  officers  talking  together  at 
Hostess  House.  The  shortest  was  six  feet-two,  the  tallest 
six-feet-seven. 

All  Engineers  have  rifle  practice,  but  only  eighty-nine 
out  of  one-hundred-fifty  carry  arms.  They  are  not  sup- 
posed to  fight  men,  but  forces:  earth,  water,  fire,  disease, 
difficulties;  to  surmount  opposing  Brains  rather  than  go 
Over  the  Top,  yet  they  are  always  in  danger,  since  even 
if  constructing  far  from  the  battleline,  what  they  do  is 
always  something  the  enemy  wish  undone,  and  they  are 
watched.  So  I,  for  one,  remember  with  a  thrill  an  officer 
of  our  earliest  Engineers  saying  simply  when  the  battle 
needed  a  hand,  "Hey,  boys,  we've  got  to  get  into  this," 
and  they  threw  down  their  tools  and  rushed  into  the  fray. 

What  men  dislike  most  is  "bear-walking",  back-break- 
ing as  it  is  to  the  usually  tall  men  of .  our  army,  many 
of  whom  stand  several  inches  above  the  six-foot  trenches. 
They  must  stoop  enough  to  clasp  their  ankles,  and  becom- 
ing expert  in  this  trench  walk  is  a  matter  of  life  and  death. 
Lieut.  Keen  appreciated  all  this,  he  is  three  inches  above 
the  trench  top  himself.  One  day  drilling  his  men 
at  bear-walking  he  called  out  cheerily,  "Let's  all  grunt 
and  growl;  we'll  all  be  bears,"  and  grasping  his 
own  ankles  the  handsome  young  officer  led  off  ferociously. 
All  were  boys,  or  grew  boys  again,  and  with  an  accompani- 
ment of  noise  that  would  have  scared  a  Kodiak  bear  stiff, 
that  company  remained  double  longer  than  ever  before. 
Delprat  wasn't  named  Keen  for  nothing,  Americans  can  do 
anything  for  fun.  And  that  understanding  and  comrad- 
ery,  coupled  with  their  knowledge  of  his  ability,  are  what 
helped  the  young  Lieutenant,  in  a  difficult  situation  as 
acting  Captain. 

The  company  took  great  pride  in  their  record  of  not 
one  man  in  the  guard  house  all  Winter,  even  for  the  slight- 
est infraction  of  discipline.  In  the  Spring,  a  man  over- 
stayed his  leave.  Keen  reprimanded  him  and  warned  him 
not  to  repeat  the  offense,  but  a  fortnight  later,  he  did. 
This  time  it  was  the  guard  house.  The  men  were  furious; 
all  right  enough  for  the  Brigades,  but  Engineers!  They  all 

§  20 


290  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

but  mobbed  him,  while  their  language  was  both  strong 
and  fluent.  In  fact  they  used  so  much,  that  none  of  them 
had  a  single  word  left  for  him  for  weeks.  He  was  com- 
pletely ostracized;  in  the  vernacular,  he  did  not  belong. 

One  day  a  private  came  upon  business  to  Lieut.  Keen 
who  remarked,  "You  look  familiar,  have  I  ever  known  you?" 

"Well  Dink,  you  were  not  in  my  class  there,  but"- 

"Sheffield,"  ejaculated  Keen  at  sound  of  his  old  Yale 
name,  "what  luck!"  and  the  grip  was  warm.  Such  occur- 
rences are  common  at  Camp  Lewis. 

Lieut.  Keen  was  associated  with  Adj.  Brizou  in  bridge 
work, — Captain  Keen  now,  and  of  Engineers,  at  twenty- 
six.  In  an  early  military  exhibition  at  Camp  Lewis,  the 
Engineers  gave  an  exhibition  of  speed  and  skill  in  bridge- 
building,  strength  of  the  hurried  work  being  proved  by 
the  crossing  of  heavy  equipment  wagons. 

The  district  officer  at  Portland  examined  recruits  with 
reference  to  their  fitness  for  special  branches  of  the  Ser- 
vice. Then,  too,  men  were  selected  from  the  regiments 
on  the  cantonment  when  found  with  training,  trades,  or 
qualifications  for  the  Engineers.  Their  work  was  in- 
tensive; line  officers  studied  two  evenings  a  week  and  non- 
commissioned officers,  four. 

A  brave  and  distinguished  man  is  the  French  officer, 
Lieutenant,  afterward  Captain,  Batal,  who  fought  in  all 
the  early  terrible  days  of  the  war.  Asked  about  the  Marne, 
the  smile  dies  from  his  face  and  that  set  look  which  some 
who  fought  there  never  lose,  returns.  How  one  wishes 
to  be  able  to  visualize  the  historic  battles  and  the  heroism 
in  them  which  fastened  to  Lieut.  Ratal's  uniform  of  hori- 
zon blue  those  two  decorations,  the  War  Cross  and  the 
rarer  Military  Medal,  both  of  which  he  wears.  He  is 
the  only  officer  in  the  French  Detail  awarded  the  latter, 
and  it  is  significant  that  he  also  is  an  Engineer,  of  France, 
and  was  assigned  to  that  Corps  at  Camp  Lewis — Oh,  you 
men  of  the  91st  Division,  you  certainly  have  been  fortunate 
in  every  way.  Of  them  to  whom  much  has  been  given,  much 
will  be  required,  but  we  of  your  Northwest  have  supreme 
faith  in  you.  We  shall  watch  you  with  solemn  pride. 


CAMP    LEWIS 


291 


CAPT.    BATAL, 

Lieut.  Batal  was  instructor  of  the  fortifications  division 
for  the  316th  Engineers.  Nothing  to  equal  the  scope, 
activity  and  resource  necessary  in  the  area  of  this  war 
has  ever  taxed  Engineers  before,  since  the  Great  Engineer 
finished  His  Six  Days'  World-Work  and  rested  upon  His 
Sabbath.  All  "impregnable"  fortresses  and  fortifications 
have  long  ago  been  utterly  destroyed.  Strongholds  must 
now  be  literally  places  strongly  held,  principally  emplace- 
ments for  artillery.  Lieut.  Batal's  experiences  are  in- 
valuable to  our  Division.  That  he  is  a  highly  educated 
man  goes  without  saying  and  he  is  also  more — well,  com- 
rade-y,  than  some  of  the  detail.  When  the  Ninety-First 
went  out,  Capt.  Batal  remained  at  Camp  Lewis  and 
became  Instructor  in  the  Fourth  Officers  Training  Camp 
there. 

Capt.  Harmon  Bonte  is  of  an  old  California  family, 
his  Grandfather  the  Episcopalian  Bishop  known  through- 
out the  State;  but  he  himself  is  better  known  in  connec- 


292 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


tion  with  big  mining  operations  in  Utah,  and  important 
engineering  work  in  Alaska,  which  he  abandoned  at  once 
to  enter  the  army.  Though  widely  known  by  what  he  had 
already  accomplished,  Capt.  Bonte,  is  another  young  man, 
only  thirty-six,  about  Capt.  Batal's  age,  one  would  guess. 

Lieut.  Carrick  was  in  charge  of  excavating  the  dug- 
outs of  No  Man's  Land  up  on  the  bluff.     This  gives  you 
a  good  idea  of  doorway  for  gas  protection.    I  was  amused 


DUGOUT 

at  the  answer  of  one  of  the  young  fellows,  "Why  no,  we 
didn't  dig  it,  the  doughboys  do  that."  Well,  he  will  be 
very  apt  to  do  it  in  France,  where  our  Americanism, 
"Dig  in",  has  become  literal. 

There  was  a  private  in  the  316th,  who  found  himself 
a  square  peg  in  a  round  hole.  He  had  been  a  cowpuncher, 
came  from  the  Imperial  Valley,  and  was  so  accustomed 
to  riding  that  all  he  had  feet  for  was  to  fasten  spurs  to. 
He  was  tall  and  lanky,  and  the  drill,  though  he  never 
complained,  was  hard  upon  him,  so  one  day  his  Captain 


CAMP    LEWIS  293 

asked  if  he  could  drive  mules.  "Drive!  Why  I  can  drive 
thirty  teams  with  reins,  and  as  many  mules  as  I  can  see, 
with  a  jerk-line!"  He  was  given  the  corral. 

Col.  Jewett  is,  beside  Corps  Commander,  Division  En- 
gineer, thus  in  charge  of  the  Engineer  Train,  which  car- 
ries tools  and  everything  needed  by  the  Corps  at  the 
Front,  although  it,  too,  as  one  of  the  Trains,  is  connected 
with  Col.  Saville's  Department.  They  overlap,  as  does 
the  Ammunition  Train,  into  Artillery,  which  it  supplies. 
Engineers  and  Artillery  are  affiliated  in  Service.  First- 
Lieutenant  E.  L.  Norberg  is  head  of  the  Division  En- 
gineer Train. 

Col.  Jewett  has  also  general  supervision  over  the  De- 
tachment of  the  420th  Engineers  Depot,  which,  like  all 
depots,  does  not  belong  to  the  Division,  though  the  men 
hope  to  be  ordered  to  the  Front.  Capt.  V.  C.  Suckow  is 
Commanding  Officer  'of  the  twenty-three  men  who  con- 
stitute the  force,  with  one  Lieutenant,  A.  J.  Stern.  The 
Captain  is  another  big  man,  physically  and  mentally.  The 
91st  Division  is  noted  throughout  for  its  tall  men,  but  it 
seems  as  if  in  the  Engineers  all  are  tall. 

This  beautiful  arch  of  small  logs  was  the  first  built 
at  the  cantonment.  It  was  designed  and  built  by  the 
depot  men,  who  also  bounded  their  grounds  and  gardens 
with  sapling-rails,  made  flower  boxes  for  all  their  windows, 
a  pergola  and  a  lattice  of  small  boughs,  which  are  the  envy 
of  everybody  who  passes.  They  had  grass,  too,  and  grass 
that  first  year,  was  scarce  enough  to  be  mentioned.  Their 
flowers  were  very  cheery  in  the  Spring  of  1918.  The 
depot  force  also  formed  a  Y  of  walks  which  were  of  gravel, 
not  rocks,  upon  which  they  stood  for  Retreat. 

Speaking  of  Retreat  makes  the  men  near  there — for 
the  Trains  adjoin  the  depot — smile.  One  afternoon  a 
woman,  unused  to  cantonment  customs,  was  walking  past 
a  Company  drawn  up  to  pay  respect  to  the  Colors  about 
to  be  lowered.  As  you  know,  she  should  have  remained 
standing,  silent,  where  she  was  when  the  bugle  sounded 
Retreat,  but  she  came  on  till  a  Sergeant,  not  so  courteous 
as  his  Colonel  would  have  been,  yelled  "Madam,  Retreat." 


294 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CAMP    LEWIS  295 

Startled,  she  began  the  only  retreat  in  her  ken,  backing 
and  backing,  till,  before  the  entire  Company,  all  making 
believe  they  were  not  there,  she  abruptly  sat  down  upon 
a  rock  pile,  one  white  shoe  in  the  air  like  a  flag  of  truce. 

A  flag  of  truce,  by  the  way,  is  the  only  article  not 
furnished  Engineers  by  this  420th  Depot.  Every  tool  and 
instrument  is  in  charge  of  it  and  given  out  as  needed. 

The  316th  Engineer  Corps'  Chaplain  is  Milton  C. 
Lutz,  born  near  Nuremberg,  Schuylkill  County,  Penn. 
His  great-grandfather,  Christian  Lutz,  was  a  veteran  of 
the  Revolutionary  war,  who  settled  there,  so  Lutz  and 
Nuremberg  and  Schuykill  do  not  spell  Germany.  Lieut. 
Lutz'  education  began  in  the  public  schools.  A  teacher's 
course  in  the  East  Stroudsburg  Normal  school  followed, 
and  a  literary  scientific  course  in  the  Bloomsburg  State 
Literary  Institute,  after  which  he  moved  to  Chicago  and 
took  up  Theological  studies.  Licensed,  he  preached  at 
the  same  time.  Theology  was  followed  under  the  personal 
instruction  of  Dr.  A.  E.  Wright,  founder  and  president 
of  Grace  Bibical  Institute.  Advanced  work  gave  him  the 
degree  of  D.  D.  While  serving  as  pastor  he  took  special 
work  in  the  University  of  California  and  in  Whitman 
College,  Washington. 

While  pastor  at  Live  Oak,  California  he  was  also  Chief 
Probation  Officer  of  The  Juvenile  Court  of  Sutter  County, 
for  six  years.  While  serving  as  pastor  at  Walla  Walla, 
Washington,  he  received  the  appointment  of  Chaplain,  Jan- 
uary, 1918,  and  was  assigned  to  the  316th  Engineers. 
He  is  a  member  of  "The  Church  of  the  United  Brethren 
in  Christ." 

Asked  the  peculiarities  of  the  sect,  he  replied  that 
it  had  none,  that  it  was  organized  in  Isaac  Long's  barn 
in  1757  a-purpose  to  teach  a  simplified  faith,  Otterbein 
being  its  first  exponent.  Chaplain  Lutz  says  this  church 
was  the  pioneer  in  fighting  both  slavery  and  liquor.  The 
Chaplain's  first  name,  Milton,  perhaps  tended  him  toward 
poetry.  However  that  maybe,  he  hopes  to  complete  a 
volume  of  verses  in  that  blessed  "After  the  war."  A  little 
daughter  was  added  to  his  flock  just  as  her  father  left 
for  France,  a  child  he  will  never  have  seen  until  that  time. 


296 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


"Let  me  see,  what  is  hope  in  the  language  of  the  France 
I  am  starting  for?  What?  Esperance?  I  shall  ask  her 
mother  to  name  the  baby  that." 

Lieut.  Lutz  speaks  German,  and,  aided  by  Maj.  Post 
of  the  316th  has  organized  a  class  for  the  study  of  that 
very  necessary  language  among  men  who  could  learn  so 
much  of  value  to  our  army  if  when  reconnoitering,  they 
could  understand  the  Germans  they  overhear,  or,  endan- 
gered, could  answer  readily  in  the  language  of  the  foe. 
Quite  a  number  of  the  officers  of  the  316th  have  joined 
the  class. 

Chaplain  Lutz  has  charge  of  educational  work  among 
the  enlisted  men,  also  of  the  Corps  postoffice,  beside  the 
usual  visiting  the  sick  and  conducting  services. 


CAMP    LEWIS  297 

When  the  316th  Engineers  go  to  their  great  Service 
in  France,  their  home  people  will  follow  them  with  pride 
and  await  them  with — 

ESPERANCE. 


298  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

THE  MILITARY  POLICE — ITS  C.  0.  COL.  SAVILLE — DRINK  AND 
GAMBLING  TABOO — CAPT.  THORNBERRY — LT.  COL.  ALLEN 
—AMMUNITION,  SUPPLY,  ENGINEER  TRAINS — CHAPLAIN 
REXROAD — THE  SANITARY  TRAIN  AND  LT.  COL.  REYNOLDS 
— MASONIC  AMBULANCE  CO. — PORTLAND'S  LARGE  PART 
IN  MEDICAL  WAR — FIELD  HOSPITALS — THE  ELK'S  UNIT 
— DENTAL  INFIRMARY — MAJ.  SMITH  AND  PHYCHIATRY— 
UNITED  STATES  FIRST  DECLARE  WAR  UPON  SYPHILIS. 

Probably  no  other  branch  of  the  army  is  so  little 
understood  as  that  of  the  Military  Police,  two  of  the  rea- 
sons being  that  much  of  its  important  work  is  secret,  and 
that  it  is  new,  initiated  by  Americans,  but  adopted  by  our 
Allies  across  the  water,  almost  before  it  had  been  consoli- 
dated in  this  country.  There  is  now  an  Officers  School  for 
Military  Police  at  Jacksonville,  Florida.  It  polices  can- 
tonments for  its  contributing  zone,  supervises  road  and 
bus  traffic  for  speeding  and  crowding,  having  eight  motor- 
cycles for  that  purpose,  arrests  soldiers  or  civilians  em- 
ployed at  camp  when  absent  without  authority,  or  law- 
breakers; keeps  a  list  of  camp  retainers  and  an  eye  upon 
their  conduct,  takes  charge  of  prisoners  and  conducts 
them  to  confinement  after  sentence,  "takes  up  or  runs 
out  undesirable  camp  followers,  detects  spies,  finds  and 
returns  foolish  young  girls,  polices  railway  stations, 
watches  hotels,  public  utilities  and  military  stores,  etc." 

In  war,  all  these  duties  and  countless  others,  are  theirs. 
The  Military  Police  also  protect  telegraph  wires,  keep 
roads  to  the  front  clear,  watch  inhabitants,  prevent  spy- 
ing, and  take  charge  of  prisoners  of  war,  in  short,  in  camp 
and  field,  guard,  protect,  detect,  arrest,  keeping  both  High- 


CAMP    LEWIS  299 

ways  and  Byways  clear  to  Liberty,  and  blocking  them  to 
License. 

Again  have  Camp  Lewis  and  the  91st  been  fortunate 
in  the  Commanding  Officer  of  this  extremely  important 
Service,  Col.  M.  E.  Saville.  They  owe  him  much  more 
than  they  will  ever  know,  and  the  people  of  the  North- 
west are  greatly  in  his  debt.  He  has  been  invaluable  in 
aiding  near-by  cities  to  rid  themselves  of  the  thousands 
of  undesirables  who  invariably  flock  about  an  army  camp 
like  vultures  over  a  battlefield,  for,  wherever  soldiers  on 
leave  go,  the  field  of  the  Military  Police  extends.  For 
instance,  following  a  military  order  issued  upon  all  hotels, 
barber-shops,  restaurants,  fruit  stands  etc.  in  Tacoma,  for 
examination  of  their  employees,  it  was  found  that  some 
had  not  complied,  forgetting  they  were  dealing  with  the 
United  States  Army.  Military  Police  were  posted  at  their 
doors,  no  soldier  was  allowed  to  enter,  and  if  within  one 
was  "right  in  the  middle  of  perfectly  good  chocolate  pie, 
it  was  beat  it."  A  corps  of  them  has  been  regularly  sta- 
tioned in  nearby  cities,  with  wonderful  lessening  of  im- 
morality and  crime,  for  politics  may,  and  does,  often  in- 
terfere in  civil  justice,  to  our  shame  be  it  acknowledged, 
but  there  is  no  nonsense  about  military  trials.  Many  peo- 
ple dreaded  the  advent  of  the  troops,  but.  under  Col.  Sa- 
ville, Camp  Lewis  has  been  safer  and  cleaner  than  any 
civilian  settlement  of  its  size  in  the  world,  a  broad  state- 
ment, but  one  vertified  by  records.  They  have  been  safe- 
guarded from  without  and,  as  far  as  humanly  possible, 
protected  from  themselves. 

Col.  Saville  is  a  great  big,  keen,  kindly,  fun-loving, 
understanding  sort  of  man.  Even  in  the  picture  you  will 
see  it  would  be  of  no  use  to  try  to  hoodwink  him,  and 
that  "His  eyes  is  sot;"  but  it  is  easy  to  see  why  his  men 
swear  by  him  instead  of  at  him.  He  started  out  to  make 
Camp  Lewis  the  cleanest  camp  on  earth,  and  he  seems  to 
have  done  it.  He  is  an  old  army  man  of  thirty  years' 
service,  born  in  Missouri,  graduated  from  the  U.  S.  Mili- 
tary Academy  in  1893,  connected  with  22nd,  13th,  10th, 
and  14th  Infantry  Regiments.  He  served  at  Santiago 


300 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


COL.    SAVIL.LE 


de  CuJ?a  and  wears  a  wound  chevron.  He  has  served 
principally  in  the  West,  four  times  in  Cuba  and  once 
in  Alaska.  He  also  served  on  the  Border  as  a  line  officer, 
and  in  the  Quartermaster's  Department.  When  the  91st 


CAMP    LEWIS  301 

Division  was  organized,  Col.  Saville  was  stationed  in 
Alaska  and  was  one  of  the  first  officers  to  report  at  Camp 
Lewis,  being  assigned  to  command  of  the  Divisional  Trains 
and  Military  Police.  As  soon  as  the  selective  draft  men 
began  to  arrive,  he  hand-picked  a  number  of  men,  organ- 
ized the  Military  Police,  and  began  work.  At  that  time 
the  underworld  was  attracted  to  the  Camp  in  large  num- 
bers. Col.  Saville  soon  organized  the  community  in  such 
a  way  that  effective  means  were  at  hand  for  the  preven- 
tion of  vice-producing  establishments  and  of  all  forms 
of  degeneracy  usually  attracted  to  Army  camps.  High 
ideals  set  forth  by  the  Commanding  General  were  made 
realities  and  extended  to  near-by  communities. 

Thousands  of  prostitutes  arrived — and  departed,  speed- 
ed by  the  Military  Police.  Several  of  these  vampires  were 
found  to  have  been  hired  by  Austrians  to  spread  their 
unspeakable  disease  among  Camp  Lewis  soldiers,  a  branch 
of  war  service  distinctly  Hunnish.  Still,  many  a  soldier, 
sworn  to  give  his  life  if  need  be  to  his  Country,  has  in 
this  way  not  only  deserted  to  the  enemy  but  has  taken 
his  comrades  with  him,  for  Sir  William  Osier  calls  "Syp- 
hilis an  easy  first  among  infections."  Such  a  soldier  is  a 
traitor. 

Among  other  duties  of  the  Military  Police  have  been 
those  necessary  to  the  keeping  of  inhabitants  loyal.  These 
very  efficient  Military  Police  have  succeeded  in  suppres- 
sing and  driving  to  cover  the  sabotage,  disloyal  or  sedi- 
tious activities  that  were  common  in  the  Northwest.  This 
work  has  been  constructive  and  has  required  finesse  and 
acumen  to  avoid  the  political  pitfalls  that  have  developed 
from  time  to  time.  Col.  Saville's  influence  with  Organized 
Labor  Organizations,  together  with  his  active  endeavor 
with  the  loyal  elements  throughout  the  Northwest,  has 
resulted  in  his  name  being  a  dread  to  law-breakers  gener- 
ally. To  him  is  largely  due  the  cleaning  out  of  that  trait- 
orous organization  whose  very  name  is  misleading  and 
should  stand  for  I  Won't  Work.  At  the  end  of  January, 
a  well-forward  plot  to  organize  soldiers  at  Camp  Lewis 
into  I.  W.  W.'s,  to  frustrate  war  plans,  was  discovered,  and 


302  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

seven  leaders  were  arrested  by  Military  Police.  A  bright 
young  fellow  named  Jack  Vosburg,  who  had,  by  the  way, 
so  far  played  leading  man's  parts  in  moving  pictures, 
in  this  plot  took  following  man's,  sleeping  in  the  bunk 
house  with  the  I.  W.  W.'s,  where  he  heard  a  characteristic 
"leader"  from  one:  "The  three  most  dangerous  things 
to  the  workers'  progress  are  religion,  patriotism,  and 
autocracy."  He  went  on  to  say: 

"They  talk  about  the  I.  W.  W.  being  destroyers  of 
property.  Who  has  more  right?  Did  not  the  I.  W.  W. 
build  it?  I  want  to  see  the  day  (and  I  know  it  will  come 
— and  after  that  day  I  am  content  to  die)  when  we  will 
overthrow  the  capitalists  and  the  autocracy.  They  arrest 
our  speakers  and  stop  our  papers,  but  we  have  them 
printed  and  go  along  just  the  same.  That  is  why  they 
want  to  down  us.  Now  is  the  time  to  strike  for  they  have 
their  hands  full  with  this  war.  If  we  don't  receive  any 
gain  ourselves,  what  is  the  use  of  fighting;  Germans  are 
just  as  good  as  we  are.  The  only  way  is  for  the  men  to 
refuse  to  go  to  war.  If  we  all  get  together  we  can  pre- 
vent it." 

— and  the  men  exchanged  seditious  remarks  which  were 
brought  against  them  in  their  trial. 

During  the  time  that  Col.  Saville  was  protecting  the 
ban  on  a  near-by  community,  it  happened  that  one  of  the 
recalcitrants  of  the  existing  vice  and  seditious  rings  visited 
him  at  Military  Police  Headquarters  and,  glancing  at  a 
soldier  in  the  outer  office  said,  "That  man's  face  is  famil- 
iar, who  is  he?" 

"My  orderly,"  replied  the  Colonel,  "and  your  chaffeur 
for  two  weeks."  The  visitor  made  a  very  short  stay, 
it  would  hardly  seem  to  have  paid  him  to  have  come  so 
far  simply  to  remark  about  the  weather  and  the  beauties 
of  Camp  Lewis,  the  only  topics  touched  upon  after  the 
silence  which  fell. 

The  Colonel  is  descended  from  the  First  Earl  of  Hast- 
ings, the  French  Saville  who  went  over  with  William  the 
Conqueror  to  England,  and  the  men  of  his  family  have 
been  fighting  pretty  much  ever  since,  so  that  fighting  is 


CAMP    LEWIS  303 

in  his  blood.  His  ancestors  in  this  country  were  Revolu- 
tionary, 1812,  Mexican,  and  Civil  War  Veterans,  promin- 
ent in  the  settlement  of  New  Jersey  and  Northwest  Ter- 
ritory. He  married  Cora  Gordon  in  1896.  Her  forebears 
also  fought  in  all  this  country's  wars,  so  that  it  was  a 
foregone  conclusion  that  their  two  sons  should  enter  the 
Service.  Wilson,  named  for  an  early  superintendent  of 
the  United  States  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  finished 
his  second  year  there  in  time  to  spend  a  few  days  with 
his  father  just  leaving  for  France,  and  Gordon  is  destined 
for  Annapolis  and  the  Navy.  So  the  Saville's  are  another 
All-Service  family,  for  Mrs.  Saville  has  devoted  one  entire 
day  a  week  throughout  the  Winter  to  Red  Cross  work, 
conducting,  in  conjunction  with  Mrs.  Seebach,  wife  of 
Major  Seebach  of  the  Trains,  a  large  class  in  surgical 
dressings,  and  allowing  nothing  to  interfere  with  it. 

The  United  States  is  still  a  pioneering  country,  has 
always  struck  out  new  paths.  A  navy  without  grog  would 
not  float,  other  nations  held ;  an  army  without  liquor  would 
be  dry  enough  to  blow  up.  This  Country  calmly  ordered 
discontinuance  of  rationing,  and  emptying  of  canteens, 
but  the  spirit  of  the  service  has  only  gained  by  dropping 
the  s,  singular  as  that  sounds.  In  fact,  it  is  the  principal 
reason  why  Camp  Lewis  had  had  no  trouble.  The  Mili- 
tary Police  have  been  most  vigilant  against  that  thief 
"which  men  put  into  their  mouths  to  steal  away  their 
brains."  It  is  noteworthy  that  when  Captain,  afterward 
Admiral,  Wilkes  sent  out  the  exploring  party  from  his 
ship  which  traversed  this  campsite  in  1841,  he  anticipated 
this  order,  a  strange  thing  in  those  bibulous  times.  He 
says  in  his  "Narrative:" 

"Knowing  how  much  time  is  lost  ion  boat  expeditions 
by  the  use  of  grog,  and  the  accidents  that  are  liable  to 
occur  when  a  strict  watch  cannot  be  kept  over  it,  I  de- 
cided not  to  send  any  spirits  with  the  party.  I  am  fully 
persuaded  myself  that  that  portion  of  the  ration  is  un- 
necessary, but  in  order  not  to  deprive  any  pf  the  sailors 
of  it  who  might  deem  it  essential,  I  had  the  boats'  crews 
tailed  aft  and  found  that  nearly  all  were  in  the  regular 
habit  of  drawing  their  grog.  I  then  offered  to  any  who 


304  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

might  wish  to  continue  the  use  of  that  part  of  their  ration, 
the  option  of  remaining  with  the  ship  and  having  their 
places  supplied  by  others.  There  was  no  hesitation  on  the 
part  of  any,  who  all  decided  to  go." 

Wilkes  was  not  alone,  even  in  that  day,  in  his  opin- 
ions, for  Dr.  McLaughlin,  Hudson  Bay  Factor  at  Nisqually 
close  by,  purchased  the  entire  cargo  of  rum  brought  by 
the  brig  T.  H.  Perkins,  that  it  might  not  be  purveyed  to 
his  post,  where  spirits  were  strictly  forbidden. 

Gambling,  another  vice  of  former  armies,  is  strictly 
tabooed  now:  spells  courtmartial ;  and  the  Military  Police 
have  another  thing  to  watch  for.  In  peace  times,  drink- 
ing and  gambling  were  the  principal  recreations  of  the 
old  army.  Their  places  have  been  more  than  filled  by 
the  constant  and  varied  amusements  supplied  to  the  new. 
Results  are  notable.  For  instance,  Col.  Saville  took  several 
carloads  of  soldiers  from  the  Pacific  Coast  to  the  Atlantic, 
not  posting  a  single  guard,  without  a  suggestion  of  trouble 
or  a  trace  of  rowdyism  among  them.  At  Spokane,  Chi- 
cago, and  Philadelphia,  they  had  several  hours'  leave. 
Not  one  took  advantage  of  his  liberty  but  all  were  present 
at  roll-call.  Think  what  such  a  journey  would  have  meant 
in  old  days,  or  for  that  matter,  contrast  it  with  the  short 
trip  which  doubtless  brought  some  of  those  very  men  to 
camp  last  Fall,  when  drinking  and  quarreling  finally  nearly 
resulted  in  the  death  of  the  porter.  So  recalling  what 
Col.  Saville  once  said  of  the  Military  Police :  "Others  build 
something  visible,  our  work  is  invisible,"  one  cannot  agree. 

Speaking  of  activities  which  fill  the  soldiers'  leisure, 
recalls  the  opening  of  the  new,  Y-8,  used  by  the  Military 
Police.  Col.  Saville  presided  over  the  dedication  with  wit 
and  appreciation,  accepting  the  building  in  behalf  of  his 
command,  urging  them  to  enjoy  its  pleasures  and  op- 
portunities to  the  full,  and  praising  the  work  of  the  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  The  fine  musical  program  included  several 
selections  upon  a  superb  harp,  played  by  a  Y-man,  McBain 
Milne,  former  harp  soloist  of  Theodore  Thomas  orchestra. 
Another  harpist  who  has  appeared  several  times  at  camp 
entertainments  is  little  six-year-old  Alice  Dillon,  daughter 


CAMP    LEWIS  305 

of  the  leader  of  one  of  the  Infantry  bands.  She  plays  a 
small  harp  made  expressly  for  her. 

Maj.  M.  Y.  Croxall  was  until  Spring  in  immediate 
charge  of  Military  Police.  He  was  then  ordered  away, 
expecting  to  go  into  Cavalry  for  which  he  was  well  fitted, 
having  ridden  much  over  his  extensive  ranches.  His  place 
was  taken  by  Maj.  Read.  Lieut.  Sidney  Foulston,  who  is 
in  command  of  Military  Police  kept  in  Tacoma,  also  an 
efficient  officer,  was  promoted  before  the  Division  went 
out.  In  fact,  as  Col.  Saville  says,  they  are  hand-picked 
men,  and  he  is  proud  of  them  and  their  record.  They 
have  the  courtesy  of  the  educated,  which  the  majority  of 
them  are.  They  wear  a  broad  band  upon  one  arm  with 
the  blue  letters  M.  P.  upon  it. 

Two  Military  Police  officers,  Lieutenants  W.  P.  Gil- 
logly  and  H.  N.  Schindler,  began  a  six  weeks'  course  of 
instruction  to  young  women  and  girls  at  Tacoma  Stadium 
in  military  training  under  auspices  of  the  Patriotic  League, 
when  pleasant  weather  came.  Women  are  called  upon  for 
so  many  unaccustomed  activities  these  strenuous  times 
that  such  instruction  is  of  great  value. 

A  sergeant  of  Military  Police  whose  home  is  in  Ta- 
coma where  he  was  born,  Crete  Chezum,  while  at  camp, 
made  a  suggestion  which  will  likely  be  taken  up:  that  a 
tract  of  a  thousand  or  more  acres  adjacent  to  every  can- 
tonment be  devoted  to  Universities,  shops,  gardens  and 
ground  for  the  training  of  trades  suitable  to  maimed  sol- 
diers, who,  returning  from  war,  find  themselves  unfitted 
for  their  former  occupations.  Concentration  of  such  ser- 
vice would  benefit  the  Army. 

The  Ninety-first  has  been  most  fortunate  throughout  in 
its  content  with  its  individual  unit  and  officers  and  men.  I 
am  tempted  to  say  that  is  particularly  true  of  the  Military 
Police.  The  hours  are  very  irregular,  necessarily,  as  in  no 
other  branch  of  the  service,  and  a  man  may  lose  much  sleep 
night  after  night  in  exigencies,  but  the  men  evidently  would 
have  it  no  otherwise.  All  they  resent  is  that  "Some  people 
think  we  have  a  safe  job.  -Don't  you  believe  it.  We  are 
drilled  both  as  Infantry  and  Cavalry,  but  are  armed  only 

§  21 


306  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

with  pistols,  and  are  special  targets  for  attacks  at  the  Front. 
As  for  our  Intelligence  department" — he  stopped  abruptly, 
adding  only,  "Do  you  know  we  have  a  corps  of  men  who 
speak  every  language  but  Timbuctoo?  Col.  Saville  has 
put  in  a  requisition  for  the  first  Timbuctoon  to  enter  the 
Depot  Brigade,  and  he  always  gets  what  he  starts  for." 

Speaking  of  Intelligence,  there  is  now  attached  to  the 
Military  Police  a  man  who  until  Spring  was  Instructor  of 
Jui-jitsu  in  the  Divisional  School  of  Intelligence,  Capt. 
Risher  Thornberry,  the  First  and  Only  foreigner  to 
obtain  a  diploma  from  the  Japanese  government  for  the 
practice  of  its  national  "Gentle  Art  of  Self  Control,"  which 
gentle  art  can  cause  instant  death,  if  need  press,  with  no 
other  weapon  than  hands  and  body.  The  Japanese  samu- 
rai, nobility,'  could  defile  their  swords  upon  no  man  not 
equal  or  superior.  The  Ninety-First  was  again  most 
fortunate  in  securing  a  master  of  the  difficult  system,  a 
man  who  was  chosen  to  teach  Jui-jitsu  to  the  Japanese 
themselves.  Curiously,  and  wisely,  they  will  not  issue  a 
diploma  to  a  student  who  has  but  proved  himself  proficient, 
he  must  teach  others,  for  a  set  period,  successfully.  It 
is  something,  then,  to  be  instructed  by  a  man  who  holds 
that  curious  scroll.  Capt.  Thornberry  published  a  series 
of  illustrated  books  upon  Jui-jitsu  several  years  ago. 

"The  principle  of  the  system  is  simple,  that  of  the 
lever,"  he  explains.  That  may  seem  simple  to  him  and 
clear  to  you,  but  to  me  there  are  still  several  points 
unillumined  about  this  "wrestling  kit  which  no  soldier 
should  be  without." 

Capt.  Thornberry's  life  would  furnish  plots  for  plays, 
for  books  of  travel,  war,  adventure,  for  mystery  stories 
that  would  chain  Conan  Doyle  to  his  desk — that  is,  it 
would  if  he  ever  spoke.  Von  Moltke  was  said  to  have  been 
silent  in  seven  languages;  Thornberry  has  been  silent  in 
seventy  crying  adventures.  Perhaps  it's  because  he's  a 
Quaker,  from  a  family  who  came  to  this  country  in  times 
of  persecution  for  the  peace  and  quiet  denied  them  even 
there. 

In  the  big  still  frame  you  can  see  immense  strength, 
but  no  hint,  nor  in  the  almost  expressionless  -face,  of 


CAMP    LEWIS 


307 


CAPT.    THORNBBRRY 

agility  sudden  as  lightning.  As  for  anything  exciting,  you 
would  think  his  whole  life  presaged  by  his  graduation  from 
Hiram  Medical  College,  Ohio.  He  spent  a  few  months  in 
Florida  camps  and  went  to  Cuba  during  the  Spanish- 
American  war.  He  was  surgeon  aboard  the  Hospital  Ship 
Relief  for  two  and  a  half  years,  went  through  the  Boxer- 
Rebellion  and  the  Russo-Japanese  war,  entered  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  work  in  1902  at  Nagasaki,  having  done  naval  work 
in  the  Philippines.  Nagasaki  is  the  great  coaling  station 
of  Japan.  Here  the  Floating  Society  occupied  the  only 
clean  building  in  the  city  and  boasted  the  only  soda  water 
fountain  in  Japan,  and  "the  fizz  was  twenty-five  cents  a 
glass."  He  was  a  U.  S.  marshal  under  Consul-General 
Fowler  for  a  year. 


308  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

What  follows,  and  hint  of  his  dramatic  adventures, 
was  told  by  a  close  friend,  who  is  responsible  when  the 
Captain  reads  this. 

It  was  in  1902  that  there  began  that  series  of  covert 
attacks  and  marvelous  escapes  which  would  read  like  the 
"continued-in-our-next"  episodes  of  a  dime  novel  should 
they  ever  get  into  print.  Richard  Harding  Davis  is  one 
of  those  who  attempted  to  learn  of  them.  They  began 
with  his  going  ashore  from  his  ship  to  treat  a  desperately 
ill  mestizo,  (Chinese  and  Filipino)  a  beautiful  young  girl. 
With  him  was  another  doctor  who  had  called  him  for  con- 
sultation, and  a  much-loved  prominent  American  citizen 
who  had  asked  the  physicians  to  come  to  her.  Disinfect- 
ing his  hands,  Dr.  Thornberry  pushed  up  his  sleeves  and 
thereby  disclosed  a  mark  tattooed  upon  his  arms — nonsense 
in  company  of  some  friends  long  before.  It  was  the  skull 
and  serpents,  sign  of  his  healing  calling.  Years  there- 
after, he  learned  that  it  was  also  the  sign  of  a  terrible 
Oriental  society,  similiar  to  the  Black  Hand.  It  was  seen 
by  the  sick  girl  whose  brother  was  of  an  opposing  cult, 
and  she  was  commanded  to  kill  the  man  of  mercy  who 
bore  it,  also  the  two  with  him,  who  might  be  implicated. 
She  therefore  poisoned  them  with  one  of  the  fearful  secret 
potions  known  in  the  East.  The  other  two  died  in  fright- 
ful torments.  Dr.  Thornberry,  with  an  iron  constitution, 
survived,  but  for  years  suffered  periodical  returns  of  in- 
tense agony,  under  which  he  would  eventually  have  suc- 
cumbed, for  'tis  said  the  poison  never  fails,  had  it  not 
been  for  Jui-jitsu.  He  was  told  by  Orientalists  that  tap- 
ping near  the  spine,  or  the  constant  violent  exercise  of 
wrestling,  might  eradicate  the  subtle  poison.  He  chose 
the  latter  and  began  Jui-jitsu.  He  took  hourly  lessons  in 
the  most  violent  forms  known.  After  a  time  the  poison 
exuded  from  the  skin  in  tiny  drops  from  knees  to  ankles, 
and  finally  he  entirely  recovered;  but  for  thirteen  years, 
he  was  relentlessly  pursued,  from  one  country  to  another, 
and  his  life  attempted  in  every  form.  A  charm  foiled 
every  hoodoo,  it  would  seem,  for  he  was  never  even  hurt. 
Toward  the  end  of  that  time  he  received  a  number  of 


CAMP    LEWIS  309 

anonymous  letters  warning  him  of  attempts  to  be  made, 
and  finally,  three  or  four  years  ago  only,  a  letter  reached 
him  saying  that  he  was  never  to  be  molested  again,  that 
it  had  been  found  he  had  no  affiliation  with  the  hated 
bund.  This  is  not  the  place  for  all  the  dramatic  story, 
the  many  incidents  of  which  are  almost  unbelievable. 

He  has  lived  in  Mexico  through  all  its  revolutions  since 
Madero.  Did  you  ever  read  "Real  Soldiers  of  Fortune? 
One  of  them  was  Maj.  Burnham,  hero  of  the  Boer  war, 
a  relative  of  John  Hays  Hammond  who  put  him  in  charge 
of  his  600,000-acre  concession  in  Sonora.  There  Capt. 
Thornberry  and  his  little  family  lived  for  three  years, 
and  he  was  in  entire  charge  of  the  protection  of  the  Amer- 
icans of  the  district  and  of  their  movement  and  rendezvous, 
should  flight  become  advisable.  This  was  from  1909  to 
1912.  During  this  time  he  was  closely  associated  with 
Maj.  Burnham,  one  of  the  wonder  scouts  and  intelligence 
men  of  the  world.  Capt.  Thornberry  is  invaluable  to  our 
service.  His  war  record  as  surgeon  was  long,  but  he 
wished  to  go  into  the  fighting  Army,  entered  the  Presidio, 
and  was  graduated  from  the  First  Training  School  as 
Captain.  He  now  heads  a  company  of  Military  Police  and 
will  go  with  them  to  France  for  another  war.  And  a 
Quaker ! 

Of  course  Military  Police  have  also  the  care  of  their 
horses,  and  they  are  well  mounted.  Headquarters  Troop 
Guarding  Headquarters  in  war,  and  in  peace  employed 
principally  as  orderlies,  belongs  also  to  the  Trains.  Capt. 
Coakley  is  its  Commanding  Officer. 


Lieutenant-Colonel  Allen  Smith,  Jr.,  Commanding  Of- 
ficer of  the  316th  Ammunition  Trains,  comes  from  a  fight- 
ing family,  one  of  whom  was  an  officer  with  Washington. 
His  Grandfather  was  Maj  .-Gen.  C.  F.  Smith  who  was  in 
command  of  a  Division  at  Fort  Donelson  and  of  whom 
Gen.  Grant  in  his  Memoirs  says,  "It  is  probable  that  the 
general  opinion  was  that  Smith's  long  services  in  the  army, 
and  distinguished  deeds  rendered  him  the  more  proper 


310 


THE  NINETY-FIRST 


person  for  such  command.  Indeed  I  was  rather  inclined 
to  this  opinion  myself  at  that  time,  and  would  have  served 
as  faithfully  under  Smith  as  he  had  done  under  me." 


MOTOR    TRUCK 

X 

Gen.  Smith  had  been  distinguished  all  through  the 
Mexican  War,  at  Cerro  Gordo,  San  Antonio,  the  Storming 
of  Chapultepec,  commanding  a  storming  party  at — but 
this  is  not  a  record  of  today.  He  was  graduated  nearly 
a  hundred  years  ago  from  West  Point  and  he  died  soon 
after  his  gallant  charge  on  the  Heights  of  Donelson.  Grant 
wrote:  "His  death  was  a  severe  loss  to  our  western  army. 
His  personal  courage  was  unquestioned,  his  judgment  and 
professional  acquirements  were  unsurpassed,  and  he  had 
the  confidence  of  those  he  commanded  as  well  as  of  those 
over  him." 


CAMP    LEWIS 


311 


LT.    COL,.    ALLEN    SMITH 

This,  too,  was  told  by  the  Civil  War  veteran,  who 
fought  at  Donelson.  The  quotations  are  from  Gen.  Grant's 
autobiography,  and  speak  as  clearly  of  the  generosity  of 
the  one,  as  of  the  capacity  of  the  other. 

Lt.  Col.  Smith's  father  was  a  midshipman  in  the  Civil 
War,  and  was  retired  as  Brigadier-General.  He  himself 


312  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

enlisted  in  the  First  Washington  and  was  appointed  Sec- 
ond-Lieutenant in  the  Spanish  American  war.  He  fought 
in  over  thirty  engagements,  says  a  friend,  without,  a 
scratch.  He  was  in  the  China  Relief  Expedition,  and  in 
the  Philippine  Insurrection  was  Major  of  Scouts;  was  in 
the  Islands  for  six  years.  He  served  on  the  Mexican 
Border  at  Douglas,  Yuma  and  Ogallas,  coming  as  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel to  Camp  Lewis  August  25,  in  charge  of  the 
316th  Ammunition  Train.  This  Train,  like  the  others,  is 
under  general  control  of  Col.  Saville,  but  also  belongs  to 
the  Artillery  arm  of  service.  Enlisted  men  wear  the  T 
which  shows  the  former,  and  a  red-and-blue  hatcord.  Its 
great  steel  motor  trucks  carry  ammunition  of  all  kinds, 
transport  the  small  arms  and  even  one  three-inch  gun  for 
each  battalion,  machine  guns,  caisson,  shells  and  the  like. 
They-  bring  such  ammunition  from  the  depot  of  supplies 
at  the  rear,  to  a  distributing  base  near  the  front,  where 
the  combat  trains  attached  to  the  various  units  pick  it 
up  to  take  where  needed  upon  the  firing  line.  There  are 
supposed  to  be  thirty-six  motors  to  each  of  the  four  com- 
panies. There  are  also  mule-drawn  wagons  and  caissons. 
Of  course  animals  are  occasionally  used,  but  in  this  war, 
more  and  more,  it  is  the  motor.  The  men  of  the  Ammuni- 
tion Train  are  largely  specialists,  assigned  because  of  their 
knowledge  of  motors  which  they  must  know  like  the  al- 
phabet, and  be  able  to  repair.  They  undergo  some  drilling 
as  artillery  battery.  Many  of  the  men  are  from  the  large 
auto  factories. 

Another  officer  of  Spanish- American  service  is  Major 
Norris  J.  Shupe,  in  command  of  the  motor  battalion  of 
the  316th  Ammunition,  who  attended  the  first  Officers 
Training  Camp  at  the  Presidio,  formerly  a  lawyer  of  Chi- 
cago, but  whose  home  is  in  Pasadena.  The  Major  is  a  fine 
horseman,  but,  under  breath,  his  daughter  Phyllis  is  better. 
Officers  of  these  trains  ride  horses  at  camp  but  at  the 
front  will  travel  in  autos.  Major  Weir  of  the  Mounted 
Train  will  be  glad  of  this.  The  Lord  did  not  Hooverize 
when  He  made  the  Major,  and  a  Trains  tradition  will  recall 
the  big  man  on  the  little  mare  the  day  of  a  long  hike. 


CAMP    LEWIS 


313 


True  to  her  sex,  the  mare  bore  a  good  deal,  and  long,  in 
both  senses,  but,  finally  concluding  that  the  imposition 
would  go  on,  deliberately  lay  down  on  her  job,  as  one 
aptly  put  it.  She  did  not  kick,  just  quit.  The  Major  said 
a  number  of  things,  doubtless  justified  from  his  point  of 
view,  but  the  mare  kept  an  ominous  silence;  actions  speak 
louder  than  words.  She  lay  there  in  the  road,  stubbornly 


MAJ.    MORRIS    J.     SHUPE 

refusing  to  rise,  and  listened  quietly  to  the  Major,  who, 
with  eloquence  which  both  surprised  and  charmed,  with 
plenty  of  local  color — mostly  lurid  red — and  dashes  of 
humor,  though  he  himself  appeared  to  be  unconscious  of 
these,  he  exhausted  the  subject. 


314  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Just  before  the  Trains  went  out,  Maj.  Gen.  William 
Kobbe,  U.  S.  A.  retired,  and  Mrs.  Kobbe  of  Pasadena  came 
to  Camp  Lewis  for  a  farewell  visit  to  their  son,  Capt. 
Eric  Kobbe,  of  the  316th  Ammunition.  Another  son,  Maj. 
Herman  at  Camp  Fremont,  and  a  third,  Col.  F.  W.  in 
France,  are  of  the  regular  army.  The  other  two  sons, 
Captains  William  H.  and  Eric,  attended  Officers  Training 
Camps.  The  former  recently  lost  a  hand  in  a  premature 
grenade  explosion,  yet  he  and  the  others  hope  he  will 
be  retained  in  active  service.  All  this  might  be  expected 
from  a  family  with  the  father's  record.  He  enlisted  as 
a  private  in  New  York  Militia  in  1862  and  was  a  First- 
lieutenant  by  the  next  year.  He  fought  throughout  the 
Civil  War,  then  entered  the  regular  army  as  Second-Lieu- 
tenant, fortunate  in  being  demoted  but  one  rank,  for  in 
the  sudden  decreasing  of  the  army,  when  only  distinguished 
officers  could  be  retained  at  all,  there  were  scores  of  neces- 
sary cutting  demotions.  There  was  General  Roussean,  who 
became  a  Lieutenant  in  the  7th  Cavalry,  but  was  always 
called  General. 

Maj  .-Gen.  Kobbe  fought  in  the  Philippines  as  Major, 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Brigadier-General,  and  was  De- 
partment Commander  of  Mindanao  and  Jolo.  Having 
acquired  the  habit  of  being  brevetted  for  bravery  during 
the  Civil  War,  he  kept  it  up  in  the  Islands.  All  this  made 
it  more  of  a  joke  upon  Capt.  Eric  Kobbe,  his  being  thrown 
from  his  horse  in  manoevers  one  day,  even  if  his  leg  was 
broken.  Now  in  the  regular  army  the  forfeit  for  being 
thrown  has  immemorially  been  champagne  all  round  for 
jeering  brother  officers:  it  is  the  only  thing  that  shuts 
their  mouths.  As  Washington  is  dry — at  least  as  to  liquor 
— the  occasion  was  robbed  of  even  this  sparkle.  It  was 
bottled,  but  as  a  beverage,  Oh !  The  Trains  officers  combine 
in  hoping  that  if  Capt.  Kobbe  is  fated  to  break  the  other 
leg,  he  will  not  fall  until  their  arrival  in  France,  where 
champagne  will  partly  console  them  for  his  misfortune. 

As  the  Trains  were  needed,  they  were,  with  the  Artil- 
lery, the  last  of  the  91st  Division  to  leave  for  France  the 
end  of  June,  1918.  The  Ammunition  Train  celebrated  by 


CAMP    LEWIS  315 

a  beautiful  party  in  their  Assembly  Hall  on  the  very  last 
Saturday  night.  The  invitations  were  general,  everybody 
made  welcome.  Sergeant  Whyler  had  charge  of  the  decora- 
tions, and  as  he  was  interior  decorator  for  Douglas  Fair- 
banks, they  were  beautiful  and  unique.  In  the  center  of 
the  ceiling  hung  five  large  flags  of  the  Allied  countries 
which  at  a  signal  during  the  dance,  fell,  scattering  dozens 
of  toy  balloons  of  every  color  attached  to  corsage  bouquets 
of  sweet  peas  and  maiden-hair  ferns  for  the  ladies.  The 
company  insignia  accompanied  each,  for  a  keepsake.  A 
supper,  carrying  out  the  decorations  in  pink  and  green, 
completed  an  evening  in  which  song  and  dance  had  com- 
bined to  enliven  a  farewell  to  all  the  pleasures  of  camp 

life.    Now,  it  was  France  and  fight. 

*********          * 

The  316th  Supply  Train  is  commanded  by  Maj.  Oscar 
Seebach  who  entered  the  Spanish  American  war  with  the 
13th  Minnesota  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  in  the  battle 
of  Manila  and  in  August  1898  was  shot  through  both 
lungs.  He  was  brevetted  Major  at  that  time  when  he  com- 
manded a  battalion  under  Gen.  Lawton.  He  spent  ten  weeks 
in  a  hospital  recovering  from  his  wounds.  For  fifteen  years 
afterward  he  served  in  the  National  Guard  of  Minnesota. 
His  home  is  at  Red  Wing,  that  state. 

There  are  192  auto  trucks  in  the  316th  Supply  Train, 
and  six  companies  of  seventy-five,  with  two  officers  to  a 
company.  The  motor  trucks  take  the  place  of  the  old 
mule-drawn  supply  wagons.  For  five  months  the  men  are 
drilled  as  infantry.  They  understand  motor  cars  better 
than  their  own  bodies.  Some  of  the  men  needed  are  not 
yet  drafted  for  this  important  service  and  may  be  asked 
to  be  inducted  with  this  Train,  which  brings  rations,  equip- 
ment, forage  for  animals  of  the  Trains  etc.,  from  the 
base  of  supplies  to  the  troops,  as  the  Ammunition  Train 
does  gun  food.  The  Supply  Train  also  holds  reserves  of 
cattle  and  horses  to  be  killed  or  harnessed  as  required. 
The  Supply  Trains  do  not,  of  course,  fight  unless  attacked, 
but  are  trained  to  defend  themselves  and  the  Army  neces- 
sities they  carry. 


316  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Maj.  Seebach  filled  a  new  role  when  he  gave  away  the 
bride  in  the  second  military  wedding  at  Camp  Lewis,  Miss 
Agnes  Johnston,  to  Lieut.  Wilmer  Brinton,  childhood 
friends  in  Butte,  Montana.  The  chaplain  of  the  316th 
Train,  an  old  friend  of  both,  performed  the  ceremony  in 
Y-8  which  was  prettily  decorated.  The  groom's  company 
furnished  music.  All  the  officers  of  the  companies  com- 
manded by  Maj.  Seebach  were  in  the  wedding  party  and 
every  man  of  the  Train  was  on  hand  to  do  honor  to  the 
occasion.  The  mess  hall  had  also  been  decorated  by  the 
men  themselves  and  a  banquet  was  served  to  the  battalion 
and  guests.  Many  a  time  in  the  trenches  in  France  you 
of  the  Supply  Train  will  remember  all  the  good  fellowship 
of  that  wedding,  will  you  not?  and  the  fact  that  every 
one  of  Lieut.  Brinton's  company  gathered  flowers  upon  a 
hike  the  day  before  towards  the  mess  hall  decorations. 

Also  under  command  of  Col.  Saville  of  the  Military 
Police,  by  reason  of  their  activities  at  and  near  the  Front 
in  keeping  roads  open  for  them,  is  the  Division  Engineer 
Train  which  supplies  its  corps  with  everything  needed  by 
them  in  building,  operating  and  repairing  railway,  road, 
bridges,  entrenchments,  in  fact  all  operations  of  this  great 
branch  of  the  army.  There  are  heavy  tools  and  appliances, 
explosives,  animals  and  vehicles,  and  the  men  in  charge 
of  them  all.  The  systematizing  of  all  co-ordinating  branches 
has  had  great  effect  upon  efficiency. 

Military  Police  and  Trains  insist  that  they  have  just 
the  chaplain  they  want  in  C.  A.  Rexroad.  He  is  burly  and 
jolly  and  strong,  and  can  ride  and  swim  and  wrestle  with 
the  best  of  them — and  the  worst  of  them,  equally.  He  was 
born  in  West  Virginia  but  brought  up  in  Christian  county, 
and  Christian  fashion,  in  Missouri.  His  father  was  a 
blacksmith,  and  the  chaplain  considers  himself  a  first  class 
horseshoer.  He  worked  his  way  through  college,  starting 
with  two  dollars  and  a  half  in  his  pocket  and  a  scant 
ten  dollars'  worth  of  clothes,  yet  he  won  the  oration  medal 
in  his  third  year.  This  was  at  Scarritt,  where  he  took 
a  M.  A.  degree.  At  college  he  played  end,  right  guard  and 
right  tackle,  pitched  baseball  semesters,  and  hay  stacks, 
summers.  After  graduation  and  ordination  he  went  into 


CAMP    LEWIS 


317 


CHAPLAIN    C.    A.    REXROAD 

the  service  of  body,  mind  and  soul,  that  is,  he  conducted 
athletics,  taught  school,  and  pastored  a  church,  all  at  once. 
In  one  Oregon  town,  he  was  superintendent  of  schools,  in 
the  bargain.  He  taught  religion  and  history  and  Latin 
and  athletics.  He  believes  in  a  stalwart  faith  in  a  sturdy 
body,  plenty  of  laughing  and  living  and  loving.  At  Milton, 
Oregon,  he  was  Athletic  Director  and  sub-teacher  in  Co- 
lumbia College  Jr.,  and  pastor  of  a  church.  At  Corvallis, 
he  was  also  a  member  of  the  Advisory  Board  of  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.,  at  Oregon  Agricultural  College.  At  Butte — he  is  no 
rolling  stone  but  a  Methodist,  which  accounts  for  his  many 
moves — at  Butte  he  actually  remained  five  years.  He  was 
president  of  the  Suntlay  School  Baseball  and  Athletic  As- 
sociation which  won  the  medal  for  Silver  Bow  County. 


318  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

The  radio  wrist  watch  which  he  wears  was  their  gift.  For 
three  years  he  was  also  manager  of  the  Lyceum  course. 
Two  summers  he  was  superintendent  and  morning  lecturer 
of  a  Chautauqua.  He  can  ride  any  horse  he  can  shoe,  and 
not  climb  off  "to  rest  his  horse"  as  one  of  the  young 
Lieutenants  said  he  did,  to  Col.  Saville's  great  amusement. 

When  Ritchie  gave  boxing  lessons  at  the  Y's,  Lieut 
Rexroad  immediately  "signed  up,  just  as  well  to  .do  a- 
thing  scientifically."  The  funniest  thing  that  ever  hap- 
pened at  Camp  Lewis  was  the  boxing  bout  which  ensued 
between  him  and  Chaplain  Lutz  of  the*  316th  Engineers. 
They  put  on  wrestling  togs  in  approved  fashion — what 
would  his  Methodist  forebears  have  said  to  this,  even  in 
a  layman,  and  in  a  clergyman!  At  any  rate  the  Y  was 
packed  to  the  doors,  soldiers  perched  in  the  roof  girders 
and  in  the  windows.  The  second  round  was  lengthened 
for  pure  enjoyment  of  the  scene.  Chaplain  Rexroad  re- 
ceived one  black  eye — there  is  no  King-road  to  pugilism, 
but  the  other  "drew  a  pair,  and  besides."  The  winner 
was  presented  with  a  very  beautiful  shower  bouquet  con- 
sisting of  a  large  flat  cabbage,  hung  with  tiny  carrots,  to- 
matoes and  parsnips  upon  narrow  ribbons.  Lieut.  Rex- 
road chuckles  even  yet  over  his  victory  and  that  shower 
bouquet. 

But  when  Chaplain  Rexroad  speaks,  the  men  go  to 
hear.  For  the  First  time  at  Camp  Lewis,  he  had  the 
buglers  sound  Church  Call  one  Sunday  morning.  The  sol- 
diers had  never  heard  it  and  when  three  buglers  before 
Y-8  trumpeted,  the  startled  Companies  rushed  over  to 
see  what  was  the  matter.  The  regulars  or  the  navy  would 
have  recognized: 

"Go  to  church  if  you  care, 
Do  the  right  if  you  dare. 
Some  folks  go  to  sing  and  pray 
Others  to  hear  the  Preacher's  say: 
Many,  for  they  were  raised  that  way, 
Go,  all  are  welcome  there." 

The  Military  Police  and  the  Trains  hear  it  every  Sun- 
day now. 


CAMP    LEWIS  319 

THE  SANITARY  TRAIN 

The  term  Sanitary  Train  is  misleading  to  a  civilian. 
The  word  sanitary,  pertaining  to  health,  they  know  of 
course;  but  is  this  branch  of  the  Service,  something  like 
250  medical  officers  and  1300  enlisted  men,  a  huge  camp 
Health  Department?  It  is  not.  It  is  First  Aid  to  the 
Injured  at  the  Battlefront  and  goes  with  the  Division. 
Of  it  are  four  Ambulance  Companies,  trained  to  remove 
the  wounded  from  the  battlefield  to  the  four  Field  Hospi- 
tals which  complete  the  Sanitary  Train,  and  which  are 
set  up  at  the  Front,  where  they  are  enabled  to  care  for 
at  least  200  patients  an  hour  during  a  combat.  Surgeons 
and  others  assigned  to  this  department  must  be,  it  goes 
without  saying,  experts,  and  especially  trained  to  speed. 
Every  Field  Hospital  is  equipped  with  tents  and  bedding  to 
care  for  216  patients.  Of  course  bandages,  disinfectants, 
anaesthetics,  etc.,  are  brought  with  the  Train. 

In  addition  to  the  Sanitary  Train,  there  are  about  200 
medical  officers  with  the  enlisted  medical  detachments 
throughout  the  Division  who  are  being  trained  for  over- 
seas service  and  who,  in  the  Infirmaries  attached  to  vari- 
ous units,  care  for  minor  ailments  among  the  sick  at  camp. 
All  of  these  officers  and  men  are  not  only  capable  of  per- 
forming surgical  and  medical  duty,  but  are  trained  to  a 
working  knowledge  of  the  fighting  organizations. 

Because  "conscientious  objectors"  to  war  have  been 
allowed  to  enter  Sanitary  Trains,  do  not  fancy  they  are 
among  the  safe.  The  fact  is  that  aviators,  at  first  con- 
sidered the  most  endangered,  rank  fourth  in  casualties, 
and  ambulance  men  first.  When  it  is  remembered  that  the 
large  majority  of  ambulance  men,  aware  of  this  fact,  are 
volunteers  to  that  corps,  it  is  plain  that  any  "cissy"  of 
your  acquaintance  is  not  apt  to  belong  to  a  Company, 
and  if  any  "objector"  does,  it  is  more  than  probable  that 
it  really  is  a  matter  of  conscience,  that  he  would  rather 
give  his  own  life  than  take  an  enemy's.  For  these  men, 
unarmed,  go  upon  the  battlefield  with  their  stretchers, 
carrying  the  wounded  to  the  Field  Hospitals  close  by, 


320 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


where  immediate  treatment  saves  thousands  of  lives;  in 
fact  this  almost  instant  attention  has  reduced  death  per- 
centage among  the  wounded  to  a  heartening  extent.  Am- 
bulances then  take  the  sufferers  further  to  the  rear  to 


CAMP    LEWIS  321 

Base  Hospitals.  As  the  Huns  specialize  in  wounded,  hospi- 
tals, Red  Cross  workers,  women  and  children,  their  air- 
planes and  snipers  take  heavy  toll  of  these  passersby  and 
of  the  brave  men  who  go  forth  in  quiet  mercy,  not  in 
frenzied  pursuit,  to  save,  not  to  kill,  knowing  full  well 
that  of  ten  who  start  upon  their  errand,  six  will  not  re- 
turn. 

The  Sanitary  Train,  though  at  Camp  Lewis  apart  from 
all  other  Trains  in  location,  extending  as  it  suitably  does 
along  the  Base  Hospital,  has  no  connection  with  that  im- 
mobile hospital,  but  is  part  of  the  command  of  Col.  Saville 
of  Military  Police.  The  reason  will  be  readily  seen,  as 
this  whole  Train  goes  abroad  and  the  Military  Police  guard 
roads  and  keep  them  clear  to  the  battlefront.  The  Sanitary 
Train  is  also  under  the  general  jurisdiction  of  the  Division 
Surgeon. 

In  immediate  charge  of  the  eight  companies  of  the 
Sanitary  Train,  at  its  Headquarters,  is  Lt.  Col.  Harry  B. 
Reynolds.  He  was  a  prominent  physician  at  Palo  Alto, 
California,  was  graduated  from  the  Officers  Training 
School  at  Fort  Riley  as  Captain  in  June  1917,  was  in 
charge  of  mustering  in  the  National  Guard  of  North  Da- 
kota, came  to  Camp  Lewis  late  in  August.  He  is  an  en- 
thusiast over  his  men,  and  if  you  half  smile,  remembering 
how  many  officers  at  Camp  Lewis  have  "the  best,"  he  re- 
minds you  that  his  are  chiefly  volunteers  to  a  'specially 
hazardous  service  and,  moreover,  principally  college  men 
who  resigned  important  positions  to  enlist  as  privates. 
Take  the  Ambulance  companies:  the  361st,  Captain  John 
Kuykendall,  came  as  a  body  from  the  University  of  Ore- 
gon; the  362nd  trained  at  Fort  Riley,  Kansas,  one  of  the 
three  camps  for  medical  men;  the  363rd  is  entirely  com- 
posed of  volunteers  organized  in  Portland;  the  364th,  of- 
ficers and  men,  are  all  Master-Masons  from  lodges  around 
San  Francisco  Bay  and  Oakland.  It  does  seem  that  he 
has  good  ground  for  his  boast. 

Col.  Reynolds  is  one  of  those  men  who  always  drops 
something  interesting  into  even  a  casual  conversation. 
He  explained  that  all  organizations  numbered  below  100 

§  22 


322  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

belong  to  the  Regular  Army,  those  in  the  100's  to  the 
general  army ;  the  200's  are  National  Guard,  and  the  300's 
National  Army.  There  are  sixteen  Divisional  cantonments 
in  the  country,  Camp  Lewis  is  number  16,  so  the  trains 
are  316.  The  companies  are  four,  four  times  sixteen  is 
64,  back  to  the  sixty-first,  on  the  same  principle  of  the 
numbering  of  city  blocks. 

Speaking  of  the  364th  Ambulance  Company,  it  is  the 
only  war  organization  in  the  country  of  which  every  one, 
of  the  124,  is  a  Master-Mason.  Around  the  tables  of  the 
Masonic  Club,  San  Francisco,  the  idea  was  broached  when 
this  country  entered  the  war.  John  L.  McNab,  H.  G. 
Squier  and  Clayton  Elliott  took  up  the  plan.  Before  the 
First  of  July,  the  required  five  officers  and  119  men  had 
signed  for  the  duration  of  the  war.  From  then  the  com- 
pany was  continually  entertained,  and  at  the  end  of  July 
a  farewell  reception  was  given  them  at  the  San  Francisco 
Civic  Auditorium  where  their  colors  were  presented  to 
the  Company.  A  few  days  later  they  donned  their  uni- 
forms. August  4,  under  its  Commanding  Officer,  Captain 
Cadwallader,  the  Corps  met  as  a  body  for  the  first 
time,  in  front  of  the  Masonic  Temple  on  Van  Ness  avenue ; 
was  formed  in  a  column  of  fours,  and  marched  to  the  City 
Hall,  where  it  was  addressed  by  Mayor  Rolph  of  San 
Francisco  and  presented  by  him  with  a  guidon;  thence 
down  Market  street,  preceded  by  several  Masonic  bands 
and  followed  by  hosts  of  relatives  and  friends,  to  the 
Ferry  Building. 

They  were  the  first  of  the  Ambulance  Companies  to 
arrive  and  they  camped  in  tents  for  two  weeks  at  Camp 
Lewis.  These  Masonic  Brothers  are  like  brothers  with  a 
small  b.  Every  one  of  them  wears  a  heavy,  broad,  square- 
edged  gold  ring,  with  Ambulance  in  blue  enamel  at  the 
top,  and  name  and  date  engraved  behind  it.  The  masonic 
grip  within  that  company,  364th  Ambulance  U.  S.  N.  A., 
will  be  hard  to  break.  Said  one  of  them,  "There  will 
have  to  be  more  than  one  page  in  that  book  about — 'here 
their  names  I  write,  these  were  my  pals,'  for  everyone  of 
us  will  have  to  inscribe  all  the  123  others.  We're  all  pals 


CAMP    LEWIS  323 

in  this  Company — better   still — Yes!   have  each   sign  his 
name."     Capt.  Bert  L.  Doane  is  now  their  commander. 

There  are  four  field  Hospitals,  commanded  by  Major 
Stanley  Berry,  one  for  each  Brigade.  Upon  the  Battle- 
front,  it  is  established  close  to  its  organization,  that  the 
wounded  need  be  carried  no  farther  than  necessary.  The 
361st  Field  boasts  of  eighty-five  percent  volunteers.  The 
362nd  attends  to  casualties  at  Camp  Lewis.  According  to 
First-sergeant  R.  D.  Wallis,  who  brought  one  hundred 
seventy-five  of  them  from  Fort  Riley,  twenty  were  as- 
signed from  the  regulars  and  thirty-five  from  the  Reserve 
Corps  at  Portland,  so  that,  as  he  says,  their  company  "is 
the  best,  with  the  pickings  of  all  three  branches  of  the 
Service."  It  is  the  only  animal-drawn  Field  Hospital  at 
camp.  Sergeant  Wallis,  who  gave  the  picture,  hopes  it 
will  show  all  the  faces  of  "the  best  bunch  in  camp"  but 
I  hae  my  doots — about  showing  the  faces,  not  about  the 
best.  They  are  all  so  good  that  it's  a  case  of  liking  best 
the  kind  of  fruit  you  eat  last.  They  have  some  good  ani- 
mals in  the  company  and  Capt.  G.  H.  Richardson  was  to 
have  ridden  in  the  Remount  Rodeo  but  was  ill. 

The  363rd,  under  Major  Sell  wood,  was  recruited  in 
Portland;  so  was  the  364th,  which  boasts  of  being  First 
of  Sanitary  Trains  to  reach  Camp  Lewis,  July  14,  1917, 
enlisted  under  Major  Strohm,  now  assistant  to  the  Divis- 
ion Surgeon.  Maj.  Archie  Dowdall  is  Division  Ambulance 
Commander.  Several  of  the  364th  have  obtained  com- 
missions. 

They  are  a  fairly  busy  branch,  these  Field  Hospital 
men,  who  are  not  named,  it  may  be  needless  to 
remark  after  the  Division  Surgeon,  but  because  they  are 
mobile,  take  the  field,  while  the  Base  Hospital  remains. 
They  train  with  Infantry,  though  in  the  Field  they  wear 
pistols  only.  They  are  instructed  in  the  care  of  sick  and 
wounded,  administer  anaesthetics,  attend  lectures  upon 
physiology,  bacteriology,  and  every  branch  of  medicine. 
They  serve  as  assistant  surgeons,  nurses,  and  chauffeurs 
of  the  twelve  motor  trucks,  so  that  the  entire  Sanitary 


324  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Train  serves  between  the  lines  of  action  and  the  zone  of 
advance.  As  one  of  its  members  boasted,  "Our  Train 
clears  roads  of  communication  before  ever  the  Military 
Police  take  them  over.  In  Field  service  we  even  wear  the 
Red  Cross  that  the  Hun  may  know  we're  the  birds  he 
wants  to  snipe,  like  a  fencer  wearing  a  red  badge  over 
the  heart.  Talk  about  Medics!  Do  you  know  we  won  the 
silver  football  ?  Never  lost  a  game  in  the  Division.  Medics ! 
How  about  the  Division  Champion  undefeated,  heavy- 
weight pugilist,  or  the  World's  Champion  hurdler,  both 
our  men?  How  about  George  Cunna,  the  swimmer,  of 
the  362nd  Ambulance?  Have  you  heard  Sergt.  Perry  of 
the  364th  Ambulance  sing?"  He  would  have  been  boasting 
yet,  had  not  Recall  sounded.  Then  had  you  passed  the 
corral  and  sheds  on  the  way,  wagons,  horses,  trucks,  am- 
bulances, motorcycles,  all  parts  of  the  organization,  you 
would  be  inclined  to  believe  with  him  that  the  316th  Sani- 
tary Train  "is  a  whole  thing,  I'm  telling  you." 

Five  of  its  eight  companies  are  from  "Portland,  the 
home  of  medical  patriots,"  as  Lieut.  Lacombe,  chaplain 
of  the  347th  Artillery,  expressed  it.  It  isn't  safe  to 
be  "indisposed"  in  Portland  nowadays,  there  cannot  be  a 
physician  left  in  its  borders.  Why,  there  is  Base  Hospital 
46,  University  of  Oregon  and  Elks,  one  of  the  first  units 
to  be  recruited,  last  July,  and  only  mobilized  the  end  of 
March,  awaiting  orders  to  prepare  for  France  all  that 
time.  A  committee  of  four  from  Portland  Lodge  B.  P.  0. 
E.  No.  142  came  to  present  the  colors.  Monroe  Goldstein, 
attorney  from  Portland,  made  the  presentation  speech, 
referring  to  the  million  dollar  fund  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
raised  for  war  purposes.  The  equipment  of  the  hospital 
cost  $60,000.  C.  M.  Ringler,  exalted  ruler  of  the  Portland 
Lodge  formally  gave  over  the  standard,  which  was  ac- 
cepted by  Lt.  Col.  Davis  of  Hospital  46.  George  L.  Baker, 
Mayor  of  Portland,  and  several  of  the  council  also  visited 
the  unit  which  underwent  intensive  training  at  Camp 
Lewis.  Addressing,  them,  he  said: 

"Remember,  boys,  Oregon  is  as  proud  of  you  as  y(ou 
are  of  Oregon.  Remember  wherever  you  go,  the  people  of 


CAMP    LEWIS  325 

your  home  state  are  with  you  100  per  cent.  Some  of  us 
are  too  old  to  go  with  you,  but  you  can  rest  assured 
that  we  will  back  you  up  in  the  good  work  you  are  doing. 
The  whole  country  is  with  you  and  I  want  you  to  feel 
especially  proud  of  your  home  town." 

This  unit  is  not  only  a  Portland;  but  quite  a  family 
one.  There  are  said  to  be  as  many  relatives  in  it  as  in 
a  Maine  village,  including  four  brothers,  Nelson's — and  the 
organization  is  not  from  Salt  Lake,  Utah,  remember,  but 
Portland,  Oregon. 

Counted  with  the  Sanitary  Trains,  now,  is  the  new 
Dental  Infirmary  on  the  other  side  of  the  parade  ground 
where,  in  a  large,  two  story  building,  are  installed  the 
finest  of  dental  chairs  and  full  electric  equipment,  sanitary 
in  white  enamel,  with  gleaming  instruments  enough  to 
strike  terror  to  the  heart.  The  best  enlisted  dentists  or, 
as  they  call  them  at  camp,  dental  surgeons,  to  the  number 
of  thirty-six,  treat  the  teeth  of  120  enlisted  men  daily. 
Every  man  in  the  Division  must  have  his  teeth  examined 
every  month  and  the  slightest  cavity  is  filled  at  once,  free. 
This  is  one  great  Compensation:  a  Nation  addicted  to  in- 
ordinate quantities  of  sweets  and  salt,  eating  little  tough, 
jaw-exercising  food,  and  many  people,  especially  in  country 
districts,  neglecting  tooth  care  and  repair,  we  were  fast 
approaching  a  toothless  future.  More  men  have  been 
refused  admittance  to  the  army  because  of  their  teeth 
than  for  any  other  reason.  This  emphasizes  their  im- 
portance. 

There  is  a  well-equipped  laboratory  in  which  eight,  even 
ten  sets  of  plates  a  day  are  made  by  two  experts,  while 
so  large  a  stock  of  teeth  is  carried,  that  any  man's  may 
be  matched  in  size  and  color.  These,  too,  are  free,  and 
plates  are  carefully  fitted.  Everything  except  gold  is  free. 
If  only  I  had  some  of  the  money  in  my  pocket  that  I  have 
in  my  mouth,  I  could  own  a  six-cylinder,  and  even  afford 
to  run  it. 

An  officer  is  in  charge  at  the  infirmary  every  hour  of 
the  twenty-four,  ready  to  leap  at  a  jumping  toothache  and 
kill  a  nerve  as  he  would  a  Hun.  It  is  the  most  up-to-date 


326  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

dental  establishment  on  the  coast,  even  the  instruments 
are  electrically  sterilized,  and  the  box  opens  at  the  touch 
of  a  foot  upon  a  spring  in  the  floor.  It  was  thought  this 
dentists'  office  of  twenty-three  chairs  would  serve  the 
whole  Division,  for  dental  surgery  cases  are  treated  at  the 
Base  Hospital;  but  another  even  larger  will  probably  be 
built  at  the  other  side  of  the  cantonment.  This  infirmary 
is  on  the  South  side  next  the  44th  Infantry.  It  was  not 
opened  until  May  and  the  long  room  is  filled  with  wait- 
ing patients  from  morning  till  night.  Just  think  in  how 
much  better  physical  condition  those  troops  will  leave 
camp,  compared  with  themselves,  when  they  came!  The 
Ninety-First  will  add  this  work  to  its  other  reasons  for 
smiling  countenances.  Dentists  will  accompany  the  army 
overseas,  taking  full  field  dental  equipment.  The  insignia 
of  army  dentists  is  the  same  as  the  medics'  except  that 
the  serpents  of  the  Caduceus  have  D  upon  them.  Many 
a  man,  and  may  yours  be  among  them,  will  return  from 
the  war  unscathed,  in  better  health  and  repair,  better  edu- 
cated, traveled,  self -controlled,  than  ever  before  in  his  life. 
*********  * 

Attached  to  the  Field  Hospital  section  of  the  316th 
Sanitary  Trains,  but  with  his  office  at  Division  Head- 
quarters to  be  near  the  Judge-Advocate,  with  whom  his 
work  co-ordinates,  and  the  Division  Surgeon,  under  whose 
department  he  serves — First  in  the  United  States  to  be 
appointed  to  a  strange  and  telling  work  in  our  army,  or 
any  other,  is  Major  Robert  P.  Smith,  Neuro-Psychiatrist— 
Whew!  Yet  so  deeply  am  I  interested  in  newly  acquired 
information  pertaining  to  the  mysterious  department,  that 
I  can  pronounce  it  quite  casually  si,  ki,  with  the  accent  on 
the  ki,  a-trist.  The  word  means  mind-healer,  though  the 
department  means  that,  backwards.  The  science  of  it  is 
not  new,  though  the  practical  applications  to  army  life 
and  courtroom  are;  and  though  Major,  formerly  Doctor 
Smith,  for  many  years  specialized  in  diseases  of  nerves 
in  his  Southern  home  and  for  several  years  in  Seattle, 
has  developed  its  researches  to  practical  value,  he  insists 
that  Judge-Advocate  Strong  deserves  all  credit  for  intro- 


CAMP    LEWIS  327 

ducing  it  into  the  service.  And  that  is  a  genuine  achieve- 
ment for,  as  Major  Smith  puts  it,  Phychiatry  is  an  inter- 
mediate between  law  and  medicine.  To  me  it  seems  a 
wonderful  hyphen  between  Judge  Advocate,  providing  new 
voices  to  plead  before  judgment.  Phychiatry  is  a  mental 
X-Ray  medicine,  Orthopedy  of  morals.  For  instance,  there 
is  the  young  officer  who  goes  into  fits  of  rage  over  trifles, 
or  nothing,  the  private  who  tells  the  wildest  stories  of 
his  marvelous  exploits,  the  athlete  who  believes  he  has 
lost  the  use  of  his  arm,  all  who  have  a  kink  in  their  brains, 
instead  of  in  their  spines :  mental  and  moral  misfits.  These 
in  many  phases  have  come  before  the  Psychiatric  depart- 
ment to  about  the  number  of  2,500,  a  very  small  percentage 
of  the  50,000  men  who  have  entered  Camp  Lewis,  and 
only  about  700  of  them  have  been  rejected.  Some  have 
been  returned  to  civil  life  where  they  are  capable  of  earn- 
ing a  livelihood,  perhaps,  without  ever  doing  any  harm, 
but  who  would  endanger  those  about  them  in  a  crisis. 
Some  have  been  found  insane  and  returned  to  their  States 
to  be  confined.  Many  have  been  cured  by  the  specialists 
with  which  Major  Smith  is  associated. 

Of  the  former  was  the  curious  case  of  a  private  in  one 
of  the  Trains.  He  came  in  the  early  days  of  the  camp  and, 
though  often  quoted  for  his  queer  sayings,  held  his  own 
until  his  empty  bed  was  discovered  one  night  in  barracks. 
He  appeared  for  assembly  in  the  morning  and  it  was  found 
he  had  slept  in  another  barracks.  Questioned,  he  replied 
casually  that  he  just  thought  he'd  see  if  his  pals  would 
miss  him  enough  to  look  him  up.  Asked  how  long  he  had 
been  in  the  army,  he  replied,  "twenty  years,"  and  that 
he  was  Top  Sergeant.  Asked  where  he  had  been  stationd 
before  coming  to  Camp  Lewis,  he  answered  promptly, 
"at  Fort  Steilacoom."  He  was  taken  to  the  Phychiatrist 
and,  after  examination,  returned  to  the  asylum  from  which 
he  had  escaped  in  the  Fall.  He  had  changed  his  name, 
entered  the  army,  and  been  but  a  few  miles,  for  months, 
from  those  who  searched  for  him. 

Had  it  accomplished  no  more  than  at  Camp  Lewis,  the 
Psychiatric  Department  would  have  vindicated  its  estab- 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


lishment  in  ridding  the  Division  of  the  unfit,  but  overseas 
it  has  already  proved  invaluable.  Captain  Calhoon,  former- 
ly in  charge  of  the  State  insane  asylum  at  Steilacoom,  has 
charge  of  the  clinic  for  mental  and  nervous  diseases. 

There  is  less  malingering  in  this  part  of  the  hospital 
than  in  any  other,  as  you  will  agree  when  you  remember 
that  a  soldier  who  succeeds  in  fooling  his  examiners 
stands  a  good  chance  of  confinement  in  an  insane  asylum. 
Major  Smith  chuckles  over  one  exception,  a  man  who  had 
formerly  enlisted  in  the  regular  army  for  the  customary 
three  years.  He  decided  that  if  he  was  considered  feeble 
minded  he  would  fare  better  and  he  apparently  lay  awake 
nights  to  think  up  new  schemes.  Being  a  particularly 
acute  man,  much  brighter  than  his  commander  likely,  adds 


CAMP    LEWIS 


329 


ULANCE  UNIT 


Major  Smith,  that  three  years  was  a  delightful  joke.  Well, 
he  was  caught  in  the  first  draft  and  began  the  feeble- 
minded play  at  Camp  Lewis.  "Confronted  with  the  results 
of  our  clinic,  he  heartily  concurred  in  the  findings,  acknow- 
ledged that  life  at  Camp  Lewis  was  not  so  dull  as  it  had 
been  in  the  little  old  army  post,  and  that  he  was  ready 
to  serve.  He  went  back  to  barracks  and  put  his  undoubted 
brains  into  soldiering,  and  he's  going  to  be  heard  from, 
mark  my  words." 

One  of  the  isolation  wards  is  devoted  to  phychiatric 
patients  and  is  under  Capt.  Albert  Stewart's  charge,  with 
Miss  Bessie  McCann,  a  very  capable  nurse  who  has  special- 
ized in  mental  and  nervous  diseases.  Dr.  Stewart  is  of 
the  quiet,  patient,  kindly  yet  forceful  and  resourceful  type, 


330  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

that  succeeds  best  in  such  a  field.  He  has  been  connected 
for  years  with  the  State  asylums  at  Steilacoom  and  Sedro- 
Woolley. 

Naturally,  most  of  the  work  done  in  this  depart- 
ment it  is  not  wise  to  divulge,  but  some  cases  may  be 
referred  to.  A  huge  man  six  foot  six,  so  perfectly  pro- 
portioned that  he  did  not  look  large  till  he  rose  and 
towered  above  me,  was  writing  while  awaiting  discharge 
papers,  a  man  with  a  kindly,  boyish,  almost  childlike  face, 
one  who,  returning  to  ordinary  life  in  the  lonely  open 
for  which  he  longed,  would  never  be  suspected  of  the 
"unstable  mind"  which  had  been  shown  in  his  strange 
form  of  hysteria.  While  drilling,  he  had  suddenly  im- 
agined that  his  right  arm  had  become  immovable.  He 
complained  of  pain  in  it  and  held  the  arm  crooked. 
Doctors  found  nothing  whatever  the  matter  with  his  arm 
and  saw  that  his  was  a  case  for  the  Psychiatrist:  healer 
of  the  mind.  Nothing  could  persuade  him  that  he  could 
move  his  arm.  Suggestion  was  tried  but  not  hypnotism. 

Dr.  Stewart  had  an  idea;  he  told  the  man  that  if 
the  arm  could  be  limbered,  it  would  doubtless  entirely 
recover,  but  if  it  was  so  painful  they  would  better  anaes- 
thetize him,  so  they  gave  him  a  whiff  or  two  and  then 
worked  the  arm  up  and  down  several  times.  He  realized 
that  it  was  cured,  but  told  me  that  it  was  still  weak  and 
painful.  Such  form  of  hysteria  is  apt  to  return  at  any 
crisis  and  he  might  in  battle  find  his  gun  arm  immovable, 
such  is  the  power  of  mind  over  matter.  It  would  be 
useless  for  the  Government  to  feed,  clothe,  transport,  and 
pay  a  man  who  cannot  be  all  there  when  needed.  It  is 
well  to  find  this  out  early. 

Stretched  in  bed  was  another  man  who  imagines  he 
cannot  stand  upon  his  feet,  and  who  quivers  all  over  if 
one  but  lays  a  finger  upon  him.  He  says  he  "once  lay 
four  months  when  they  served  him  so  before."  Nothing 
but  his  bed  afire  would  induce  him  to  try  to  stand.  There 
is  nothing  the  matter  with  them.  As  Major  Smith  says, 
"his  feet  are  in  his  head;"  but  what  I  don't  understand 
is  why  if  he  feels  pain  in  his  feet,  there  is  no  pain  there. 
Oh  well,  I'm  no  phychiatrist,  and  the  dividing  line  between 


CAMP    LEWIS  331 

sanity  and  insanity  is  so  narrow  and  so  wobbly  that  many 
of  us  must  be  standing  very  near  it,  or  often,  stepping 
over  it,  without  anyone's  suspecting,  least  of  all,  ourselves. 

In  a  small  room,  locked  in  and  under  sentry,  was  a 
man  just  brought  from  a  regimental  guard  house  for  a 
misdemeanor  which  indicated  mental  unbalance.  A  strong 
room  connected  with  this  ward  is  for  the  insane  until  they 
are  removed,  or  for  those  temporarily  unmanageable.  In 
all  nervous  trouble  the  soothing  power  of  water  is  well 
known.  In  this  room  is  a  bath  tub  water  bed,  in  which 
a  man  may  lie  comfortably  supported  and  submerged  for 
hours,  even  overnight.  It  has  a  new  contrivance  in  a 
thermostat  which  may  be  set  at  any  degree  in  the  mingling 
of  hot  and  cold  water,  and  remain.  This  cannot  be  altered 
by  the  patient  and  its  advantages  are  apparent  when  one 
considers  the  dire  consequences  if  some  insane  sufferer 
had  succeeded  in  turning  on  boiling  water,  or  had  lain 
long  in  water  grown  cold. 

There  were  three  occupants  of  this  strong  room,  in- 
terned by  their  ignoble  enemy,  the  only  one  capable  of 
teaching  a  Hun  frightfulness,  Morphine,  World  Alien. 
Following  a  recent  outbreak  they  were  exhausted.  Two 
were  of  small  calibre,  but  the  world  has  suffered  loss  in 
the  other's  downfall.  His  great  somber  eyes  had  once 
bespoken  the  promise,  "Your  young  men  shall  see  visions," 
and  the  prophecy  of  massive  head  was  of  realizing  those 
visions.  Both  promises  had  been  ruthlessly  broken.  Re- 
finement had  been  torn  from  the  handsome  face  like  a 
scrap  of  paper;  clouded  were  the  eyes.  The  long  arm 
which  had  enlisted  to  be  strong  for  the  weak,  shamed 
its  khaki  and  hung  limply  at  the  side  of  the  weakest, 
"gassed",  body,  soul  and  spirit  by  morphine.  Such  dere- 
licts only  endanger  the  passage  of  real  men,  so,  as  soon 
as  sighted,  they  are  removed  to  this  Soul's  Sick  Bay,  and 
the  phychiatric  department  pronounces  him  "unfit  for 
service."  Drug  fiend  he  may  be,  but  is  he  too  far  re- 
moved from  the  manhood  which  was  his,  to  feel  that  the 
dishonorable  discharge,  laid  within  his  pallid  hand,  sends 
him  forth,  for  life,  for  death,  A  Man  Without  a  Country. 


332  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Both  slacker  and  coward  should  I  be,  did  I  not  here 
enlist,  as  the  humblest  of  privates,  in  an  offensive  move- 
ment which  is  no  longer,  thank  God,  a  forlorn  hope.  Read 
sadly  of  our  widespread  shame,  gladly  that  its  dominion 
is  to  cease,  and  proudly  of  our  Government,  First  among 
Nations  ever  to  attempt  the  eradication  of  a  disease  more 
devasting  than  typhus,  cholera,  smallpox,  yellow-fever, 
Black  Plague  or  White;  old  as  sin,  modern  as  Today- 
Syphilis,  ranking  general  in  the  Army  of  Death.  Now 
that  many  and  varied  "respectable  diseases"  are  traced 
directly  to  it,  Syphilis  stands  the  convicted  murderer  of 
thrice  the  number  of  tuberculosis  victims,  damning  both 
soul  and  body  unto  the  third  and  fourth  generation.  Amer- 
ican men  have  shuddered  at  the  sacrifice  of  Belgian  women 
to  Hun  Leprosy,  of  cutting  off  their  breasts  as  warning 
to  other  syphilitic  Germans.  Do  they  not  know  that  they 
themselves  have  brought  upon  their  own  wives  the  loss 
of  breast  by  scalpel  instead  of  sword,  and  have  murdered 
their  own  unborn  children,  or  disfigured  the  living  more 
hopelessly  than  have  Huns  the  children  of  enemies? 

As  a  people  we  had  begun  to  realize  that  to  ignore  a 
condition  is  not  to  change  it,  so  when  war  was  declared 
there  was  a  strong  and  general  demand  that  our  army, 
should  not  be  dis-armed.  The  very  next  month,  then, 
May  18,  1917,  two  extraordinary  laws  were  passed  by 
Congress,  sentencing  Alcohol  and  Prostitution.  These  laws 
mark  an  epoch  in  civilization.  For  the  First  time  in  World 
History  the  twin  destroyers  are  not,  legally,  attached  to 
the  army  where,  indeed,  they  had  often  held  position  as 
Aid-de-camps.  This  is  a  prime  Compensation  wherewith 
not  only  to  comfort  our  hearts,  but  to  make  answer,  if 
there  were  no  others,  to  the  question,  Will  this  war  pay? 
Yes,  thank  God,  Yes. 

But  will  that  law  accomplish  it?  No,  of  course  not, 
unaided,  but  if  men  themselves  fight  like  the  soldiers  they 
are,  if  we  at  home  open  our  eyes  and  stand  by  them,  then 
this  powerful  law  will  win,  backed  by  the  Military  Police 
and  the  Medical  Department  of  our  National  Army.  It 
is  this:  Every  soldier  who  enters  the  danger  zone,  im- 


CAMP    LEWIS  333 

perilling  himself,  without  orders,  to  a  craft  more  frightful 
than  a  submarine,  is  compelled  to  report,  within  six  hours, 
that  he  has  spoken  the  enemy,  and  to  submit  to  the  Was- 
sermann  test  at  the  camp  hospital.  Should  he  neglect  this, 
and  afterward  show  signs  of  syphillis,  he  is  court- 
martialed. 

But  our  army  is  bound  for  France.  Read  from  a 
scientific  medical  journal: 

Conditions  are  said  by  returning  observers  to  be  un- 
speakable. Unless  our  boys  go  there  fortified  by  know- 
ledge and  the  resolve  not  to  fall  to  temptations  so 
extraordinary  we  can  expect  but  one  thing — a  returning 
army  of  syphilitics.  Where  our  s\oldiers  may  be  quartered 
with  civilians  it  is  said  that  85  per  cent,  of  the  villagers, 
mostly  women,  are  syphilitic.  The  American  Government 
should  be  besought  not  to  billet  our  soldiers  in  such  sur- 
roundings, but  to  put  our  men  into  camps  and  zones  under 
American  military  contnol  and  under  American  ideals  of 
environment. 

Europe  after  this  war  must  repeat  the  history  of  the 
sixteenth  century,  in  a  great  epidemic  of  syphilis.  Will 
it  happen  here  also?  For  every  syphilitic  returning  there 
will  be  one,  two,  five,  ten  or  twenty  other  cases  developing, 
and  the  effects  upon  the  nation  will  be  that  of  incalculable 
harm.  To  this  the  loss  in  killed  and  w\ounded  will  be 
insignificant  in  comparison.  And  as  far  as  syphilis  is 
concerned  the  damage  may  go  on  for  several  generations." 

O,  men,  we  have  sacrificed  much  for  you.  We  Mothers 
served  nine  months  in  the  wearisome  inaction  and  anxiety 
which  you  dread  most,  and  then,  in  first-line  trenches, 
fought  death  hour  after  hour,  in  an  agony  you  cannot 
guess,  shedding  our  blood  for  you  in  the  bravest  of  battling 
where  no  enheartening  bugle  sounds  onslaught  nor  Taps, 
in  which  comrade  can  help,  whose  cross-of-war  You  were. 
All  this  we  Mothers  and  Wives  bear  for  your  sakes — 0 
Men  of  the  91st,  for  Our  sake,  Remember. 

And  we,  we  Sisters.  We  have  shared  the  dear  home, 
have  played  and  studied  and  worked  with  you,  have  always 
been  proud  of  you,  but  never  so  proud  as  now,  Big  Brothers. 
As  you  have  been  sure  of  our  purity,  we  have  believed  in 
yours — 0  Brothers  of  the  91st,  for  Home's  sake  Remember. 


334  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

And   we,    flushing   with   the   joy   of   it,    we   are   your 
Sweethearts,  willing,  forsaking  all  others,  to  cling  only 
unto  you  while  life  lasts.    Is  that  such  a  little  thing?— 
Men  of  the  91st,  for  Love's  sake, — 
REMEMBER. 


CAMP    LEWIS  335 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

SIGNAL     SERVICE    CORPS MAJ.     WYMAN     DIVISION     OFFICER, 

MAJ.  DANVERS  AND  THE  316TH  BATTALION  -  -  MAJ. 
SULLIVAN  AND  THE  322ND — A  YANKEE  WIRELESS — SUI- 
CIDE COMPANY'S  BIRTHDAY  PARTY — THE  DIVISION  SIGNAL 

SCHOOL — CARRIER  PIGEONS — THEIR  FIRST  APPEARANCE 
AT  CAMP  LEWIS — HOMERS  IN  AIRPLANE  FLIGHT. 

Electricity  is  the  American  of  science.  Owing  to  its 
rapid  development,  telegraph,  telephone,  wareless,  all 
within  the  lifetime  of  some,  for  Morse  wired  his  first  mes- 
sage in  1832,  Graham  Bell's  telephone  was  the  marvel  of 
the  Centennial  Exposition,  wireless  is  almost  of  Today — 
the  Army  Signal  Corps  has  become  eyes,  ears,  tongue  of 
Mars.  Their  aviators  spy  out  the  enemy,  note  his  position, 
direct  Artillery  attack  and  barrage.  Ears,  is  the  Corps, 
in  listening  posts,  at  tapped  wires,  picking  up  messages 
which  roam  the  sea  where  wires  are  not.  Tongue,  is  the 
Signal  Corps,  speaking  in  various  languages,  dictating 
shorthand  notes  in  dot  and  dash,  spot  and  flash,  light  and 
shade,  in  letters  of  flame,  and  transcribing  them  upon 
photographs  and  maps,  into  messages  and  orders — Per 
Lieut.  Signal  Corps,  Stenographer  to  Mars. 

Division  Signal  Officer  is  Maj.  Charles  Wyman  who, 
since  leaving  West  Point  in  1907,  has  had  special  training 
along  these  lines.  During  the  second  intervention  in  Cuba, 
Lieut.  Wyman,  with  the  17th  Infantry  at  Camaguey,  alter- 
nated mapping  with  chasing  bushwhackers,  who  were  burn- 
ing sugar  cane.  From  Fort  McPherson,  Georgia,  he  was  de- 
tailed to  the  Tennesee  Moonshine  country,  then  to  Texas, 
where,  at  San  Antonio,  he  was  Aid  to  Gen.  Ralph  Hoyt. 
He  was  detailed  to  Ft.  Snelling,  Galveston,  and  the  Hawai- 


336 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


ian  Islands.  At  Vancouver  Barracks  he  was  made  Captain 
of  Signal  Corps  in  1917,  was  Captain  of  the  44th  Infantry 
now  stationed  at  Camp  Lewis,  and  August  1,  made  Major, 
and  ordered  as  Division  Signal  Officer  to  the  cantonment. 
As  such  he  is  charged  with  the  efficiency  of  the  several 
methods  of  communication  within  the  Division.  This 
includes  Radio,  Telegraph,  Telephone,  Cable,  Pigeons,  and 
Visual  Communications;  also,  the  receipt  and  transmis- 
sion of  messages. 


MAJ.   WYMAN    (LEFT)    AND   MAJOR    DANVERS 

At  the  Front,  he  takes  over  all  electrical  lines  within 
the  Division's  area,  direct  all  activities  of  the  Signal  Corps, 
schemes  out  new  methods  of  communication,  and  assists 
the  Chief  of  Staff  by  arranging  for  the  reception  and  trans- 
mission of  such  information  to,  within,  and  from  the 
Division.  Rather  a  telling  sign  for  a  young  man — 


U.  S.  N.  A.  Oculist,  Aurist,  Linguist. 


CAMP    LEWIS 


337 


Maj.  Wilford  Danvers,  commanding  the  316th  Field 
Signal  Battalion, — that  is  he  wearing  the  service  hat,  Maj. 
Wyman  with  cap,  before  the  tent — enlisted  for  the  Span- 
ish-American War,  and  saw  service  in  the  Philippines. 
He  afterward  enlisted  in  the  regular  army,  was  stationed 
in  Hawaii,  and  three  years  at  Benicia  Barracks,  in  Signal 
Service.  May,  1917,  he  was  made  Captain  and  Instructor 
of  signaling  at  the  Presidio,  Monterey.  In  November  he 
was  Captain,  322nd  at  Camp  Lewis,  and  in  January  became 
Major  of  the  316th  Battalion  Signal  Corps.  He  was  born 


FIELD    WATER    SUPPLY 

in  Utah  of  Mormon  parents.  His  Grandfather,  L.  W.  Shurt- 
leff ,  was  a  Forty-niner,  traveling  all  the  way  from  Omaha  to 
the  Land  of  Promise,  by  "handcar."  The  first  of  his  family 
to  come  to  this  Country,  from  England,  arrived  in  1780. 

Maj.  Danvers  is  enthusiastic  about  his  men  because  of 
their  enthusiasm  in  their  work.  His  radio  company  spent 
$180  of  their  own  money,  assisted  by  friends,  in  purchas- 
ing material  for  experimenting.  The  morning  of  the 

§  23 


338 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


Division  March  to  Roy,  this  Company  was  up  with  the 
lark,  that  is  if  the  lark  is  so  silly,  having  the  whole  day 
before  him,  of  rising  at  four  o'clock,  and  had  their  wires 
strung,  their  aerial  erected,  connection  effected  with  Camp 
Lewis  before  the  troops  arrived.  They  had  telegraph  and 
'phone  wires,  the  nervous  system  of  the  Army  Corps, 
running  from  Head  to  Foot  and  along  the  Brigade  Arms. 
Company  A  is  the  radio  unit  for  the  316th  and  had  charge 
of  wireless  which  communicated  with  Camp  Lewis.  It 
was  a  warm  Spring  Day  and  the  men  repaired  often  to 
"the  spring". 


FIELD   TELEGRAPH 


A  field  Signal  Battalion,  by  the  way,  consists,  as  in  all 
units,  of  a  Headquarters  and  a  supply  section,  and  of  one 
wire,  one  radio,  and  one  outpost  company,  beside  the  usual 


CAMP    LEWIS 


339 


medical  detachment.  The  hat  cord  is  appropriately,  white 
and  orange — light  and  flame — the  insignia  is  a  burning 
torch  between  two  signal  flags.  The  men  are  armed  only 
with  pistols,  for  they  are  supposed  to  do  no  fighting,  though 
always  in  the  danger  zone.  All  the  officers  of  this  Battalion 
are  Reserve  Corps  men. 

The  quick  witted  French  are  experts  in  signaling. 
Lieut.  O.  Lamarche  is  the  liaison  officer.  Liaison  means 
connection,  by  any,  by  every  means.  Like  all  the  French 
Officers,  Lieut.  Lamarche  wears  the  ribbon  which  signifies 


a  medal  in  the  service.    He  was  of  the  8th  Engineers.    Of 
the  same  French  unit  was  his  assistant,  Serg.  Bertrand. 

The  Wire  company  become  experts  at  the  work  under 
adverse  circumstances.  That  this  operator  is  accustomed 
to  other  settings  is  guessed.  At  the  Front,  the  cutting  of 
wires  is  the  continual  effort  of  the  enemy.  Repairs  must 
be  instant  and  vigilance  unremitting.  The  wire  is  the 
spinal  cord,  it  is  pretty  much  what  one  of  the  corps  said, 
"the  whole  show",  as  the  din  of  a  modern  battle  sector 
makes  that  of  a  boiler  factory  only  a  foreboding  silence. 


340  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Maj.  Frank  Sullivan,  commander  of  the  322nd  Field 
Signal  Corps,  which  might  almost  be  officially  designated 
as  the  Volunteer  Californian,  is  the  only  officer  in  the 
91st  Division  who  knows  every  man  in  his  command  "even 
to  his  front  name".  According  to  the  same  authority  he 
is  "the  best  ever  and  not  above  joining  the  bunch".  Maj. 
Sullivan  has  had  years  of  experience  in  signal  service  and 
most  of  the  men  in  his  Battalion  are  specialists,  many 
college  graduates,  technicians  from  big  business,  and  en- 
listed for  special  service  because  of  it.  Most  of  them 
were  picked  before  being  mustered  in.  There  is  Lester 
Burnham  of  Spokane,  who  fought  in  the  Spanish-American 
and  was  determined  to  be  back  in  uniform  if  he  is  fifty- 
four.  There's  Elias  Rowe,  expert  electrician,  Tacoma, 
draft  age  but  afraid  he  would  be  obliged  to  wait,  and 
allowed  to  volunteer  because  of  his  proficiency.  There's 
Serg.  Eyman  who  was  a  balloonist  in  San  Francisco,  should 
think  he  would  have  gone  into  aviation,  heard  he  after- 
ward did. 

Capt.  Edmund  Hull  of  the  Radio  company  must  be 
proud  of  two  of  his  men  who,  typical  Yankees,  contrived 
and  built  a  receiving  station  which,  indisputably,  is  unique 
among  wireless.  The  condenser  is  of  tin  foil  from  chocol- 
ate bars,  tape  etc*,  the  variable  condenser  is  two  baking 
powder  cans;  flashlight  batteries  and  a  battery  from  a 
wrecked  automobile,  supply  the  current.  They  did  buy 
the  receiver  and  audion  for  increasing  the  sound,  but 
they  built  the  aerial,  ninety  feet  high,  of  odds  and  ends 
of  wood.  One  of  the  geniuses  is  Serg.  Cornish  who  helped 
construct  Monterey  wireless  station,  and  the  other  is  Corp. 
Goodspeed  Corpe.  If  he  would  drop  that  final  e  his  name 
would  say  just  what  he  himself  bids  his  company.  Mes- 
sages despatched  by  the  powerful  government  radio  at 
Monterey  and  other  Californian  wireless  stations  are 
picked  up  by  this  "junk",  distinctly  heard,  and  read  by 
the  Radio  Company. 

Running  telegraph  wires  does  not  necessarily  imply 
extra  speed  in  relay  races,  but  when  Company  B  beat 
Company  A  they  felt  they  could  win  over  any,  cross- 


CAMP    LEWIS  341 

country  running  especially.  "The  322nd  Signal  has  track 
men  to  burn:"  R.  B.  Golding  who  won  the  Panama  Ex- 
position Marathon  and  holds  Loving  Cups  galore;  W.  J. 
Postal  who  has  won  enough  Marathons  to  suggest  an 
improvement  in  the  Postal  Service  had  he  entered  it  in- 
stead of  the  Signal;  A.  B.  Norton,  both  runner  and  swim- 
mer, Honolulu;  Sergt.  Hanley,  sprinter,  and  a  former 
athletic  instructor  in  San  Francisco,  and  E.  K.  Bartlett 
of  the  University  of  California. 

As  for  Company  C,  that's  an  adopted  son,  in  toto. 
Mrs.  William  Beckman  of  Sacramento  became  interested 
because  her  own,  Sergt.  St.  Kilda  belonged  to  it,  and  sent 
her  boys  their  entire  athletic  outfit  for  foot  and  baseball 
or  anything  else  they  might  mention  was  desired  when 
they  wrote,  as  she  urged  them  to  do.  At  Christmas  she 
sent  them  a  phonograph  with  records,  one  especially  for 
Maj.  Sullivan  and  his  Adjutant,  Lieut.  Kenneth  McKim, 
with  an  Irish  song  on  one  side  and  a  Scotch  on  the  other, 
boxes  of  "eats"  and  a  silken  guidon,  guide-pennant  to  fly 
before  them.  Company  C,  is  really  pampered.  The  others 
say  a  holiday  was  good  enough  for  them  on  Washington's 
Birthday,  but  Company  C  must  have  their  Fairy  God- 
mother, and  it  must  be  her  birthday,  and  she  must  give 
a  birthday  party  to  herself  with  the  whole  280  men  and 
officers  invited,  one  of  the  largest  Signal  Companies  in 
the  Army  and  one  of  the  largest  dinner  parties:  and, 
They  say,  Company  C  ate  like  a  Suicide  Club,  as  the 
Outpost  Signal  Corps  is  nicknamed.  Then  Sergt.  St.  Kilda 
made  a  few  remarks  on  behalf  of  the  rest  and  presented 
Mrs.  Beckman  with  a  gold  fountain  pen  inscribed  "To 
Godmother  from  her  Godsons  of  Co.  C  322nd  Battalion 
F.  S.  C.  Feb.  22,  1918,"  and  she  promised  never  to  write 
a  word  to  anybody  else  with  that  pen,  and  the  whole 
affair  was  perfect  except  Capt.  John  S.  Baker  of  the  Out- 
post was  in  the  Base  Hospital.  On  February  22,  1919, 
Company  C  will  be  dreaming  back  to  that  dinner  and 
Camp  Lewis  and  Mrs.  Beckman,  and  nothing  in  all  the 
books  she  has  written  will  equal  the  adventures  they  are 
living. 


342  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

There  was  another  Signal  Battalion,  unique  in  some 
respects,  which  trained  intensively  at  Camp  Lewis  for 
several  months  but  was  never  a  part  of  the  91st  Division, 
and  went  overseas  the  end  of  March.  It  consisted  of 
over  two  hundred  men  mobilized  from  expert  telegraphers 
from  all  States  in  the  United,  and  was  commanded  by  Maj. 

John  Keck.    That,  too,  was  of  Volunteers. 

******          #*** 

Signs,  signaling,  is  as  old  as  the  hills  upon  which  its 
fires  were  builded.  Indians  had  a  smoke  code  and  sign 
pictures;  East  Indians  rivalled  telegraphic  messages  with 
their  signals.  Why  even  children  with  a  cane  used  to 
play  "Malaga  raisins  are  very  fine  raisins,  but  raisins  from 
Smyrna  are  better".  It  amuses  this  insignificant  little 
chronicler  to  know  that  her  literary  style,  or  lack  of  it, 
will  be  criticized  by  modern  Americans  just  as  Polybius', 
the  great  historian's,  was  criticized  by  the  ancient  Greeks, 
though  with  this  second  line,  the  parallel  between  us 
abruptly  terminates:  that  he  was  the  First  to  chronicle, 
200  B.  C.,  the  use  of  Military  Signaling,  I  the  last,  or 
rather  latest,  1918  A.  D.  No,  there  is  another  likeness, 
Polybius  understood  nothing  of  wireless;  neither  do  I. 

The  Morse  code  used  in  our  army  was  devised  soon  after 
the  telegraphic,  which  it  is.  Wigwagging  came  in  during 
the  Civil  War.  A  man  came  aboard  the  Flagship  Black 
Hawk  to  teach  it  to  the  Signalers,  and  it  was  readily 
picked  up  by  two  boy  ensigns.  One  of  them,  going  ashore, 
found  that  a  Brigadier-General  was  about  to  visit  Admiral 
Lee.  With  his  handkerchief  he  wigwagged  the  news  to 
his  chum,  who  told  the  Captain.  The  Captain  reported  it 
to  the  Admiral  who  ordered  the  ship  "dressed"  and  him- 
self appeared  on  deck  in  full  uniform  only  to  find  that  the 
General  had  not  yet  left  shore.  "Who  told  you  the  Gen- 
eral was  at  hand?"  enquired  the  Admiral. 

"Mr.  Barr,  sir,"  answered  the  Captain. 

"And  Mr.  Barr,  who  told  you,"  pursued  the  Commander. 

"Mr.  Calvert  wigwagged  it  to  me,  sir". 

"Are  you  a  signal  officer?  How  did  you  know  the 
code?" 


CAMP    LEWIS  343 

"Just  picked  it  up,  sir;  it's  very  easy". 

"Huh,"  grunted  the  Admiral,  "valuable  code!" 

Every  genuine  boy  has  flashed  his  secret  fishing  plans 
and  pirate's  rendezous  with  a  piece  of  broken  glass  or 
scrap  of  tin,  to  the  exasperation  of  elders  whose  faces 
intercepted  the  messages.  All  this  explains  one  of  the 
duties  of  Signal  Commanders,  devising  new  codes.  Ger- 
mans have  boasted,  and  proved,  upon  several  occasions, 
that  they  can  study  out  any  signal  code  message  within 
two  hours,  and  reply  in  kind. 

How  can  a  land  soldier — is  it  not  strange  that  there 
are  Marines  and  Sub-marines,  Land  and  Over-land  men 
fighting  today — a  land  signaler  attract  an  aviator's  at- 
tention? He  lays  upon  the  earth  a 'strip  of  white  canvas 
12x3  feet,  which  is  to  say,  "I'd  like  to  speak  to  you  a 
minute."  Upon  this  a  black  square  3x3  feet  might  an- 
nounce the  regiment,  Company  etc.,  and  the  conversation 
between  man  and  super-man  begins.  Sometimes  this  is 
read  from  a  great  page  of  white  waxed  canvas,  12x12 
feet,  roped  around  to  make  it  lie  flat  upon  the  ground; 
answered,  perhaps  by  electric  horn  blasts,  twice  repeated 
from  the  skies.  Signals  are  operated  by  lights — torches, 
hand  lanterns,  searchlights,  semaphores,  stationary  alter- 
nating lights,  colored  fires,  and  Ardois  incandescents,  red 
for  a  dot,  white  for  a  dash;  by  sound — bombs,  rockets, 
honk  etc.,  by  flags, — one,  or  two,  in  the  hands,  or  by  many 
run  upon  a  halyard,  all  these,  beside  all  forms  of  electric 
communication,  and  our  lately  added  pigeon  service. 

Of  most  of  these  the  camp  visitor  will  see  nothing  and 
hear  less,  for  it  is,  naturally,  secret,  but  parties  of  men  are 
to  be  seen  everywhere  waving  signal  flags,  one  rapidly 
working  them  while  men  seated  somewhere  in  the  shade 
are  taking  down  what  he  says.  This  is  work  advanced 
from  that  of  a  class  held  one  rainy  day  in  a  Y.  Pvt. 
Kingsbury,  tenor  soloist  of  Pilgrim  Congregational,  Seattle, 
graduate  of  an  Eastern  Conservatory,  voice,  piano  and 
organ,  he  who  sings  Joan  of  Arc  like  a  personal  appeal, 
was  conducting  a  signal  class  from  an  Infantry  Regiment. 
You  must  know  that  a  signal  platoon  is  part  of  the  Head- 
quarters Company  of  every  organization. 


344 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


"How  old  you  are?"  inquired  one  foreigner,  signaling. 

To  an  inquiry,  "Can  you  tell  what  the  date  is?" 
another  answered,  "Yes,  if  I  could  spell  February".  An 
enthusiast  sprang  upon  the  platform  and  flagged  this 
question,  ambitious  for  a  baby-signaler,  "Are  you  going 
to  Seattle  on  Saturday?"  This  was  read  by  one  of  the 
class,  and  an  eager-faced  fellow,  hand  up  in  the  very 


SIGNALING 

way  it  would  have  been  when  the  boy  was  short  half 
his  six-foot  length,  jumped  to  the  platform,  and  while  the 
class  awaited  an  equally  ambitious  reply,  triumphantly 
flagged  "N-o."  How  they  jeered.  Military  classes,  espec- 
ially at  the  first,  were  certainly  informal,  but  that  they 
accomplished,  all  agree. 

The  work  done  by  the  regimental  signal  platoons  is 
principally  "buzzer"  and  "wigwagging."  In  some  head- 
quarters companies  the  former's  wires  connect  the  offices, 
and  men  become  quickly  proficient.  They  are  then  de- 
tailed for  six  weeks'  instruction  to  the  Division  Signal 


CAMP    LEWIS  345 

School,  which  began  February  1.  This  is  under  Maj. 
Wyman's  general  supervision,  but  the  immediate  command 
of  Lieut.  H.  W.  Glensor,  who  is  both  popular  and  success- 
ful in  calling  out  the  enthusiastic  work  of  the  1500  stud- 
ents. By  the  way,  soldiers  attending  service  schools  wear 
green  hatcords,  except  those  of  the  Officers  Training  Camp 
who  wear  red-white-and-blue. 

It  is  a  course  which  appeals  to  the  American  turn  of 
mind:  telephone  and  elementary  telegraph  under  Master- 
Signal-Electrician  Frank  McCurtain,  once  expert  at  Mare 
Island  Laboratory;  map  making  and  reading,  and  radio 
telegraphy,  M.  S.  E.  (as  above)  Ray  Quick — surely  he  was 
fore-named,  graduate  of  University  of  California  and  post- 
graduate of  University  of  Illinois;  all  methods  of  visual 
signaling,  M.  S.  E.  Henry  Greybill,  of  the  regular  army, 
and  highest  "non-com"  of  the  316th  F.  S.  B.  Capt.  A.  M. 
Taylor  of  the  316th  Outpost  Company  also  works  with 
them. 

A  man  soon  takes  fifteen  words  a  minute  by  sema- 
phore and  eight  by  wigwag  or  radio.  Electricians  are 
"worms,"  Outpost  Company  the  "Suicide  Club,"  for  the 
listening  posts  are  the  Signalers'  ears.  Night  work  at 
Camp  Lewis  has  shown  the  signal  platoons  speedy  and 
noiseless  in  the  dark. 

Not  till  Spring  were  carrier  pigeons  added  to  the  Field 
Signal  Corps.  Odd  that  should  be  the  very  latest,  when 
Noah  started  the  service  so  long  ago  by  sending  one  out 
over  the  waters — suppose  that  First  is  claimed  by  the 
Navy.  Upon  their  First  Crusade,  the  Christians  dis- 
covered that  the  fore-knowledge  which  had  so  puzzled  them 
in  the  Saracens  was  brought  by  carrier  pigeons.  An- 
nouncement of  victories  in  the  ancient  Olympic  games  was 
despatched  by  pigeon  post.  The  Dutch  used  carriers  some- 
what in  war,  so  did  other  nations,  but  to  no  particular 
purpose  until  the  Franco-Prussian  war,  when  besieged 
Paris  kept  up  communication  with  the  outer  world  despite 
surrounding  Germans,  in  that  way.  Military  despatches 
were  microphoto'd  upon  collodion  films  which  were  en- 
larged when  received.  Whole  newspapers  were  sent  in 


346  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

this  way,  as  many  as  30,000  words  being  carried  by  one 
pigeon.  This  taught  the  Prussians,  who  are  at  least 
"adaptive."  Since  1870,  then,  they  have  been  breeding  and 
training  both  birds  and  men.  Thousands  of  pigeons  are 
now  a  regular  part  of  war  service  both  on  land  and  sea. 
They  are  not  so  successful  upon  the  latter,  but  it  is  said 
that  even  there  ninety-five  per  cent  of  messages  thus 
despatched  have  been  delivered. 

There  are  several  reasons  why  pigeons  are  invariably 
used  as  carriers;  first,  their  wonderful  love  of  home  and 
family.  They  mate  for  life  and  remain  true  to  the  bird 
on  the  nest  to  which  they  return  at  their  highest  rate  of 
speed  when  released,  and  that  speed  is  two  miles  a  minute 
for  thirty  miles,  which  of  course  covers  more  than  the 
enemy's  proximity,  in  rising.  Released  from  the  dark 
basket  in  which  they  are  carried,  they  dart  straight  up 
into  the  air  at  such  a  speed  that  a  machine  gun  cannot 
hit  them,  circle  widely  till  they  get  their  bearings,  and 
then  rush  for  home  half  a  mile  above  the  earth.  They 
pay  no  attention  to  a  terrific  barrage,  neither  fear  nor 
hesitate,  it  is  home  and  mother  for  pigeons,  and  they  have 
flown  800  miles  at  one  flight.  Recent  government  tests 
have  proved  that  pigeons  have  actually  delivered  long 
messages  before  wireless!. 

Handling  war  pigeons  is  dangerous  work,  but  that  is 
what  seems  especially  to  attract  American  volunteers,  so 
when  a  call  went  out  from  Camp  Lewis  for  the  birds,  and 
for  men  to  enlist  who  were  experts  in  breeding,  training, 
and  handling  them,  there  was  instant  response.  It  was 
also  announced  from  Headquarters  that  men  who  had  such 
experience  would  be  transferred  from  other  army  units 
to  the  signal  section  if  they  applied,  so  another  section 
of  Signal  Corps  is  already  at  work  in  the  National  Army. 
It  seems  that  fanciers  all  over  the  United  States  have  long 
been  breeding  speedy  homers  for  their  own  amusement 
and  racing  them  against  other  lofts,  as  horses  used  to 
be  raced  against  other  stables,  before  speed  autos  made 
horse  races  slow.  So  there  was  good  material  to  begin 
on.  All  pigeons  are  naturally  homing  and  swift,  but  breed- 
ing and  training  improve  everything. 


CAMP    LEWIS  347 

Pigeons  are  found  pretty  much  all  over  the  world,  so 
that  they  do  not  attract  attention  as  a  rare  bird  would, 
also  they  are  about  of  a  size  and  much  alike,  the  two 
black  bars  being  all  but  universal.  These  points  protect 
them  in  the  war  zone,  but  draw  the  fire  of  the  pot-hunter 
in  this  country,  who  might  kill  a  valuable  carrier  with  an 
invaluable  message,  so  Congress  has  passed  a  law  provid- 
ing a  one-hundred  dollar  fine  and  six  months  imprisonment 
as  a  maximum  for  "killing,  trapping  or  in  any  manner 
possessing,"  pigeons  owned  by  the  United  States,  the  same 
bearing  bands  marked  U.  S.  A.  or  U.  S.  N.,  and  a  number. 

At  Camp  Lewis  the  new  loft  was  stocked  with  about 
thirty  pigeons.  These  breed  constantly,  laying  two  eggs 
every  month  in  the  year,  except  in  severely  cold  weather 
which  seldom  exists  on  Puget  Sound.  They  prefer  lofts 
and  "pigeon  holes,"  which  are  named  after  them,  to  nests, 
especially  if  the  former  are  painted  white.  Yet  in  the 
early  part  of  the  Nineteenth  Century,  throughout  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley,  they  took  to  nesting  in  trees.  There  were 
sometimes  as  many  as  one-hundred  nests  in  a  tree  which 
often  broke  down  with  their  weight.  For  forty  miles  they 
would  swarm,  the  day  would  be  darkened  when  they  flew. 
They  roosted  in  solid  phalanx  as  large  as  hogsheads  and 
were  smoked  out  and  salted  down.  All  these  astounding 
facts  were  vouched  for  by  Audubon  and  other  bird  writers. 
Their  end  was  as  strange:  with  advancing  civilization,  just 
as  with  the  buffalo,  they  suddenly  disappeared,  no  one 
knows  where. 

Germans  had  50,000  and  the  combined  Allies  60,000 
homers  at  the  beginning  of  the  war.  The  United  States 
has  over  a  hundred  breeding  lofts  now,  beside  those  at 
cantonments  and  posts.  At  the  former,  only  pedigreed 
racing  birds  are  kept.  The  cock  helps  with  the  hatching, 
though  it  must  be  admitted  that  he  is  like  most  fathers, 
does  not  confine  himself  long.  Still,  the  four  hours  he 
does  sit,  weigh  upon  his  mind  to  the  extent  of  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  human  lives  at  one  battle,  perhaps,  instead 
of  the  lives  of  two  homing  pigeon,  "squeakers,"  as  the 
young  are  called.  Odd  thought,  that  his  anxiety  to  "get 


348  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

back  home"  bears  the  pregnant  message  fastened  to  this 
living  wireless. 

Camp  Lewis  men  succeeded  very  well  with  their  pig- 
eons, which  needed  not  to  be  of  the  pedigreed  for  this 
Volunteer  Flying  Corps,  as  pigeons  might  truly  be  called. 
The  section  is  taught  feeding,  affixing  the  messages  with- 
out hurting  the  little  messenger,  and  experimental  flights, 
increased  constantly. 

When  the  91st  Division  moved  in  practice  march  to 
Roy,  it  was  literally  with  bag,  baggage  and  bird,  for 
along  went  Co.  A.  Pigeonry — that's  my  own,  not  the  of- 
ficial— and  when  the  tiny  orderlies  were  sent  with  mes- 
sages they  did  not  even  wait  to  exclaim,  as  in  other  war 
plays,  "I  fly,"  they  simply  flew,  about  forty  of  them.  By 
the  way,  not  only  the  Signal  Corps,  but  all  our  fighting 
units  will  carry  racing  homers  at  the  Front,  as  they  can 
be  used  when  cut  off  from  all  other  communication  to 
announce  whereabout  to  Headquarters,  and  to  give 
information. 

Capt.  C.  Z.  Sutton  of  the  347th  Field  Artillery  Head- 
quarters Company,  was  the  First  at  Camp  Lewis  to  use 
pigeons  from  an  airplane.  During  one  of  the  "battles" 
of  the  91st,  he  went  up  with  an  aviator  and  sent  reports 
of  the  position  and  strength  of  the  "enemy"  to  his  Colonel 
by  pigeons  instead  of  by  mounted  orderlies.  It  was  un- 
official and  a  good  piece  of  work  of  his  own  seeking. 

Another  branch  of  work  was  later  added  to  that  of 
the  Signal  Corps,  spruce-production  for  airplanes,  500 
limited  service  soldiers  being  at  one  time  ordered  to  Van- 
couver Barracks  in  June. 


CAMP    LEWIS  349 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

THE   QUARTERMASTER   DEPARTMENT'S    WIDE    SCOPE — LT.    COL. 

COLEMAN,   DIVISION    Q.    M. PUP   TENTS — LT.    COL.    COMO, 

CAMP  Q.  M. —  MANY  SECTIONS  OF  Q.  M.  ACTIVITIES — NEW 
DEPARTMENT  OF  CONSERVATION,  SEGREGATION  AND  RE- 
CLAMATION UNDER  LIEUT.  ROWAN — CAPT.  SMITTEN  AND 
MAJ.  HAYS — FIRST  CAMP  LEWIS  UNIT  AND  FIRST  OFFICER 
NEVILLE —  CAPT.  MAYBEN  AND  MISCELLANEOUS  DETACH- 
MENT— Q.  M.  SCHOOL — FIRE  PROTECTION — CAMP  BAKERY 
—  THE  COOKS'  SCHOOL  —  CONSERVATION  AND  LIEUT. 
MALLUM — POST  EXCHANGES  AND  CAPT.  OLDENBORG. 

So  many  and  varied  are  the  activities  of  every  depart- 
ment of  this  great  National  Army  that,  looking  into  each, 
it  seems  to  be  almost  the  whole.  This  is  particularly  true 
of  the  Quartermaster  Department,  which  until  a  few 
years  ago  did  not  include  the  Commissary  nor  the  Pay 
Departments,  as  it  now  does. 

The  Master  of  Quarters  supplies  them  as  a  small  part 
of  his  agencies,  and  their  fuel;  clothing  of  all  sorts  and 
warehouses  for  it;  provisions  for  man,  forage  for  beast, 
and  storage  for  the  same;  wagons,  motors  (cycles,  cars, 
trucks)  ;  railway  transportation  of  troops  and  supplies; 
pay  of  all  and  triplicate  accounts  of  moneys;  office  furni- 
ture and  account  books,  stationery,  and  typewriters,  to 
keep  those  accounts;  and  supervision  of  it  all.  This  is 
but  an  inkling.  Included  in  the  Quartermaster  Depart- 
ment are  Post  Exchanges,  bakehouses,  conservation,  dis- 
posal of  garbage;  construction  of  original  cantonment, 
additional  buildings  as  needed,  their  upkeep,  repair  of 
everything  within  the  Quartermaster's  jurisdiction;  and, 
in  case  anything  comes  under  none  of  these  heads,  a  casual 
department. 


350  THE  NINETY-FIRST 

• 

There  used  to  be  a  saying  among  first  settlers 
in  the  West  where  the  Indians  made  offerings  from 
everything  they  possessed,  "Oh,  give  it  to  the  gods"— 
when  there  seemed  to  be  no  other  use  for  it.  So,  if  a 
job  does  not  plainly  fall  within  the  province  of  any  other 
camp  organization,  "Oh,  give  it  to  the  Quartermaster's." 

For  all  this  immense  business  there  are,  of  course 
hundreds  of  clerks  who  must  be  educated  men,  and  repre- 
sentatives of  all  trades.  As  work  cannot  fall  behind,  for 
in  the  army  it  is  not  do  what  business  you  can,  but  do 
all  there  is,  the  insignia  of  the  Quartermaster  Department 
gains  significance.  It  is  a  wheel  crossed  by  a  key  and  a 
sword,  surmounted  by  an  eagle — transportation,  move- 
ment, hustle,  with  key  to  stores  and  money,  a  sword  to 
defend  them,  a  keen-eyed  watching  eagle,  high-soaring, 
far-sweeping,  swift,  sure,  dominating.  The  Service  cord 
is  buff — "short  for  buffer,"  said  young  Q.  M.  "that's  what 
the  department  is." 

Some  idea  of  accounts  kept  by  this  Department  is 
given  in  the  simple  statement  that  expenditure  for  Camp 
Lewis  during  its  first  fiscal  year,  apart  from  the  cost  of 
its  building,  was  $13,243,429.35,  the  larger  part  being  for 
"pay  of  the  army."  For  "supplies,  service  and  transporta- 
tion," $4,396,558.01  was  expended,  mainly  for  the  first 
item,  food  for  man  and  beast.  Transportation  does  not 
include  bringing  drafted  men  to  camp,  and  "service"  is 
mainly  for  civilians'  pay. 

The  Quarter  master  Department  is  two-fold,  Division 
and  Camp.  The  Commanding  Officer  of  the  former  is  Lt. 
Col.  F.  W.  Coleman,  a  big  cordial  man  who  somehow  keeps 
his  smile  on  through  all  the  crowding  day,  for  work  he 
does,  but  worry  he  does  not.  Now  sometimes,  generally 
in  fact,  if  the  head  will  not  worry,  the  body  of  the  organ- 
ism must,  but  in  this  case  Col.  Coleman's  work  is  so 
systematized  that  nobody  worries.  He  is  a  natural  organ- 
izer. There  is  discipline  everywhere,  yet  no  one  ever  saw 
him  out  of  temper. 

Col.  Coleman's  ancestors  were  Holland  Dutch,  and  came 
to  this  country  on  the  overcrowded  "Mayflower,"  settling 


CAMP    LEWIS  351 

at  Plymouth  Rock,  where  the  family's  tablet  is  now  en- 
graved in  the  record  rooms  on  the  isle  of  Nantucket. 
His  grandfather  was  Colonel  Robert  Bunker  Coleman  of 
New  York  City,  and  his  father,  Major  F.  W.  Coleman,  who 
entered  the  Civil  war  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  as  a  Capt- 
ain of  the  161st  New  York  Volunteers,  his  company  being 
organized  at  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y.  At  that  time  he  was  a 
Civil  Engineer  in  the  construction  of  the  Erie  Canal. 
After  the  Civil  war,  he  remained  in  the  Regular  Army  for 
ten  years,  attaining  the  grade  of  Captain,  and  Major  by 
brevet  on  account  of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Cold 
Harbor,  Virginia. 

Frederick  W.  Coleman  was  born  in  Maryland,  1878, 
had  already  finished  college  and  was  studying  law  when 
the  Spanish-American  war  broke  out.  Being  eager  to  fight, 
he  was  commissioned  by  the  President  direct  from  civil 
life,  and  appointed  Second-Lieutenant  of  the  13th  Infantry, 
when  just  twenty  years  old.  There  were  but  two  younger 
officers  at  the  time,  and  he  is  now  one  of  the  youngest 
officers  of  his  rank  in  the  United  States  army. 

He  went  at  once  to  the  Philippines  where  he  remained 
three  and  a  half  years  and  was  promoted  to  a  First-Lieu- 
tenancy. There  the  insurrectos  were  living  off  their  own 
people,  and  murders  among  themselves  were  so  common 
as  to  attract  no  attention,  but  in  a  whole  year  after  our 
troops  took  over  the  province  of  Pangasinan  there  was 
but  one  murder. 

Lieutenant  Coleman  became  Captain  in  1905  and  joined 
the  10th  Infantry.  He  was  on  duty  at  the  time  of  the 
earthquake  in  San  Francisco  and  went  with  the  10th  to 
Alaska.  Two  years  later  it  was  ordered  to  Panama,  and 
for  four  years  Capt.  Coleman  served  there,  part  of  the 
time  co-ordinating  with  the  Engineers  upon  a  huge  tacti- 
cal map  of  the  region,  covering  five  miles  each  side  of  the 
Canal,  clearing  the  jungle  to  the  tops  of  mountains  to 
obtain  their  broad  view,  each  sector  covering  its  square 
mile  and  connecting  it  with  the  next,  like  fitting  a  puzzle 
picture.  The  last  year  at  the  Canal,  Capt.  Coleman  was 
Provost-Marshal  in  the  City  of  Panama  and  Commander 


352 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


LT.    COL.    F.    W.    COLEMAN 

of  the  American  Provost  Guard.  He  became  Major  in 
May  of  1917  and  in  August  was  appointed  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  in  the  National  Army,  coming  to  Camp  Lewis  as 
Quartermaster  of  the  91st  Division  on  the  5th  of  that 
month.  In  the  Spring  he  was  detailed  as  Acting  Chief 
of  Operation  Section  upon  Gen.  Greene's  Staff,  another 
promotion.  Col.  Coleman  has  been  closely  associated  with 


CAMP    LEWIS  353 

the  General  for  six  years,  in  Alaska,  and  with  the  first 
United  States  troops  to  occupy  the  Canal  Zone,  where  he 
was  Adjutant  of  the  10th  Infantry.  There  was  but  eight 
months'  break  in  their  connection,  when  Capt.  Coleman 
was  in  the  Commissary  Department  in  Chicago.  He  was 
in  the  office  of  the  Quartermaster-General  at  Washington 
when  war  broke  out  and  a  widely  experienced  man  was 
needed  for  this  largest  of  cantonments.  This  snapshot  of 
the  Colonel  and  six-year-old  Frederick  W.  III.,  was  taken 
at  Camp  Lewis  just  before  the  former  left  for  France. 

Col.  Coleman  was  a  member  of  the  U.  S.  Infantry 
Rifle  Team  1910,  which  won  the  championship  of  the 
United  States  at  Camp  Perry,  Ohio,  and  later  won  the 
famous  Dryden  Trophy  of  New  Jersey  at  the  State  Rifle 
Range  at  Seagart.  More  than  that,  he  wears  the  hand- 
some Distinguished  Rifle  Shot  Medal  awarded  him  by 
Congress  in  1910,  "the  dogs  of  war"  still  in  leash.  This 
means  he  was  the  best  shot  of  the  best  shots  in  the  entire 
United  States  Army,  Navy,  and  Marines,  at  three  succes- 
sive annual  contests,  which  are  ari^nged  with  the  great- 
est attention  to  detail.  Candidates  must  qualify  in  their 
own  units.  The  successful  teams  from  every  State  meet 
in  January  and  the  winners  undergo  intensive  training 
till  August,  for  the  honor  is  greatly  desired  by  the  regi- 
ment as  well  as  the  man.  Twelve  are  selected  for  the 
army.  At  Camp  Perry,  Col.  Coleman  says  there  must 
have  been  about  900  shooting,  targets  standing  for  a  mile 
and  a  half.  When  the  final  test  comes,  twelve  shoot  at 
six  targets,  all  at  one  instant,  that  there  may  be  no  ques- 
tion of  change  of  wind  or  other  conditions.  You  can 
imagine  a  man  must  have  marvelous  skill  not  only,  but 
a  self-control  and  steadiness  of  will  as  wonderful,  to  win 
such  a  contest,  among  his  peers,  three  successive  years. 
No  temperish  man,  nor  man  of  moods,  could  do  it.  As 
was  mentioned,  Col.  Whitworth  holds  the  Distinguished 
Pistol  Shot  Medal,  won  in  the  same  manner. 

The  Infantry  has  taken  this  medal  three  times  in  fifteen 
years,  which  is  an  incentive  to  every  man  on  the  rifle 
range  at  Camp  Lewis.  It  is  something  too,  to  see  three 

§  24 


354  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

such  rare  trophies  in  their  own  cantonment,  the  climax 
of  their  own  first  honors,  the  "Marksman"  badge,  for 
Americans  are  the  best  shots  in  the  world.  The  third  to 
hold  the  coveted  Distinguished  Shot  Medal  is  Major  Charles 
E.  Reese  of  the  44th  Infantry,  for  rifle. 

Col.  Coleman  has  seen  much  Staff  duty,  served  for  a 
time  upon  the  General  Staff  and  was  Assistant  Chief  of 
Staff  the  latter  part  of  his  time  at  Camp  Lewis.  Asked 
what  was  the  most  difficult  thing  in  his  position  here,  he 
answered  readily,  "Getting  enough  out-size  uniforms  and 
shoes  from  the  government  for  a  Division  which  runs  into 
cloth  and  leather  as  this  one  does."  The  Colonel  himself 
is  a  good  example  of  this.  When  the  Ninety-First  goes 
into  Germany,  the  inhabitants  will  think  a  race  of  giants 
has  been  bred  against  them,  to  offset  their  under-handed 
preparation  begun  before  these  men  were  born  to  conquer 
them. 

Speaking  of  giants,  one  day  a  company  of  Infantrymen 
were  setting  up  pup  tents  on  the  parade  ground.  One  of 
the  soldiers  was  still  ununiformed  because  of  his  immense 
size.  Now  a  pup-tent  is  so  called  because  it  is  just  about 
the  size  and  shape  of  a  dog-kennel,  and  two  men  occupy 
it.  If  this  recruit  could  lie  on  both  sides  of  the  prop- 
sticks  and  wind  his  feet  about  one  of  them,  he  would  have 
plenty  of  room  in  a  pup-tent.  He  was  one  of  Col.  Cole- 
man's  problems. 

That  tent-drill,  by  the  way,  was  interesting.  Each  of 
the  "dog  shelter"  mates  carried  half  of  the  outfit  in  a 
canvas  roll.  At  the  word,  he  would  untie  this,  remove 
his  side  of  the  khaki  roof  and  button  to  the  middle  of  the 
other's.  The  fastenings  are  snaps  like  glove  buttons.  One 
man's  place  is  at  the  front,  the  other's  at  the  rear.  Each 
has  a  jointed  stick  in  his  roll  which  now  he  stands  at  an 
end  to  support  his  lowly  roof.  Next  each  draws  the  at- 
tached guy  ropes  taut  and  pins  to  the  ground  through 
made  loops,  with  pegs  of  wood  or  aluminum.  They  were 
testing  both,  but  the  aluminum  pegs  were  weak  sisters 
and,  generally,  doubled  uselessly  when  struck.  These,  in- 
cidentally, were  issued  by  the  Ordnance  Department,  and, 


CAMP    LEWIS  355 

as  Maj.  Herring  said,  proved  a  failure.  It  was  interest- 
ing to  see  differences  in  men  about  driving  these  pins. 
Some  big  fellows,  accustomed  to  making  their  strength 
itself  a  tool,  drove  them  into  the  hard  ground  with  their 
heels;  some  looked  helplessly  about  for  a  hammer,  some 
readily  seized  upon  the  Glacier's,  the  stone  with  which  it 
beat  this  region  into  shape. 

It  was  pleasant  to  see  the  Captain's  smile  as  he  watched 
the  Company  set  up  their  tents  in  prescribed  form,  then 
front-man  and  rear-man  stand  at  attention. 

"Now  don't  you  call  that  good  work  for  only  the  second 
lesson  ?  They  will  soon  be  experts,  my  men  will."  He  looked 
at  one  wabbly  tent,  its  ridge  wavy  and  guy-ropes  slack,  and 
said,  "If  you  pitched  your  tent  like  that  on  a  rainy,  blowy 
night  in  France,  you  would  likely  have  it  about  your  ears 
just  as  you  dropped  asleep.  Build  your  houses  well,  boys,  and 
with  some  armfuls  of  dry  grass,  or  boughs  for  bed  and 
the  dirt  taken  from  one  side  of  the  canvas  heaped  along 
the  other  to  drain  it,  you'll  be  comfortable." 

Such  was  the  encouragement  and  reproof  of  that 
Captain, — wish  I  had  asked  his  name,  but  there  were  many 
of  him  at  Camp  Lewis  training  this  new,  green,  but  eager 
army. 

But  to  return  to  the  Quartermaster  Department:  there 
were  over  seventy  warehouses  for  its  various  stores,  by 
February.  These  are  being  continually  increased  in  num- 
bers and  size.  Four  immense  ones  are  filled  with  clothing, 
under  charge  of  Capt.  W.  Ruddock.  You  see  civilians 
discard  their  wear  completely,  and  the  apparel  of  50,000 
men  supplied  with  two  suits,  overcoats,  hats,  and  several 
suits  of  underwear,  makes  a  considerable  closet  necessary, 
especially  as  even  quarter  sizes  are  made,  in  order  to  fit 
enlisted  men  as  comfortably  and  nattily  as  possible  in 
ready-made  clothes.  Officers  have  theirs  made  to  order. 
As  for  shoes,  ninety  sizes  are  kept,  and  yet  our  91st  Divis- 
ion men  have  had  them  made  to  order.  One  of  you  wears 
No.  16. 

One  warehouse  holds  only  typewriters.  There  is  also 
a  repair  shop  for  them.  That  is  a  Compensation  of  this 
war,  instruction  in  the  repair  of  everything  which  is 


356 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


furnished,    that   means    less   boarding   houses    and   more 

homes  after  the  war. 

******          **** 

If  there  is  anything  about  the  Quartermaster  Depart- 
ment that  Lt.  Col.  James  F.  Como  does  not  know,  it 
must  be  the  Quartermaster-General  who  can  mention  it. 


LT.    COL.    JAMES    F.    COMO 

Officially,  he  is  Constructing  Quartermaster  for  Camp 
Lewis,  supervising  its  labor,  including  civilians.  He  has 
advanced  most  unusually  in  the  army  from  sheer  ability, 
having  enlisted  as  a  private  in  1891  when  the  Sioux  were 
acting  the  bad  Indian  for  the  last  time.  But  a  man  like 
Como  was  not  born  for  privacy,  any  more  than  his  pro- 


CAMP    LEWIS  357 

genitors  were.  The  Comeaux,  Huguenots,  came  to  the 
New  World  from  France  in  1500,  and  were  of  the  ill- 
fated  Acadians.  Some  remained  in  Canada  and,  today, 
twenty-three  of  their  descendants  are  fighting  in  Canadian 
regiments  in  the  France  that  drove  them  forth  nearly 
four  centuries  ago.  Como's  great-grandfather — the  Amer- 
ican side  has  simplified  the  name, —  headed  a  party  of 
the  exiles  and  settled  them  in  New  Acadia,  site  of  the 
present  camp  at  Plattsburg,  curious  connections  when  you 
recall  that  Col.  Como  is  in  the  army  in  that 

"Far  West,  where  the  mountains, 

Lift  through  perpetual  snows,  their  lofty  and  luminous 

summits, 
Down  from  the  ragged,  deep  ravines,  where  the  gorge, 

like  a  gateway, 
Opens  a  passage  rude  to  the  wheels  of  the  emigrant's 

wagon, 
Westward  the  Oregon  flows," — 

whence  Gabriel  came. 

This  Como  must  have  more  than  a  convenient  conscien- 
tiousness, since  upon  his  mother's  side,  he  is  lineally  de- 
scended from  the  stalwart  preacher  John  Robinson,  who 
almost  seems  to  belong  to  my  family,  for,  upon  a  rock  in  a 
large  steel  engraving  which  hung  in  our  dining  room,  just 
where  I  saw  it  every  meal  when  I  raised  my  eyes  after  "the 
blessing,"  John  Robinson  preached  his  sermon,  longer  even 
than  in  life,  to  the  group  of  Pilgrim  Fathers  and  meek 
Mothers  grouped  about  him. 

On  both  sides  there  have  been  many  fighters  in  all 
the  wars  of  our  Country  to  the  Como's  credit,  so  when 
the  Spanish-American  loomed,  James  F.  enlisted  again, 
served  both  in  Cuba  and  the  Philippines.  He  had  been 
instructor  in  post  school  and  trained  in  the  old  Commis- 
sary Department,  so  when  the  Quartermaster  Corps  was 
organized  he  was  transferred  to  that,  being  already 
recognized  as  an  expert.  Three  years  before  this  he  had 
taken  an  examination  which  gave  him  a  Second-Lieuten- 


358  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

ancy.  Two  years  later  he  wore  the  silver  bar,  and  ten 
years  after,  two  of  them.  On  the  Mexican  Border  he  was 
in  charge  of  distributing  supplies  along  hundreds  of  miles. 
Maj.  Como  came  to  Camp  Lewis,  and  Lt.-Col.  Como 
remains. 

From  the  Division  of  the  work,  some  idea  can  be 
gained  of  the  scope  of  the  Quartermaster  Department  and 
its  big  Pay  Office  near  the  bus  station.  This,  for  enlisted 
men  and  civilians,  is  under  Capt.  Hoff ;  second,  Subsistence 
— for  50,000  men, — Capt.  Gladwin;  third,  Clothing  and 
Equipage,  tents  typewriters,  etc.  Capt.  Bramstadt ;  fourth, 
Fuel  and  Forage,  hay,  oats,  cottonseed  meal,  Capt.  Timmer ; 
fifth,  Fire  Department,  Lieut.  Mantor;  sixth,  Motor 
Truck  Company,  Lieut.  Neville,  and  the  Mechanician  Re- 
pair Unit  for  motors,  cycles  and  field  trains,  Lieut.  Synder; 
seventh,  Utilities,  maintenance  of  water  and  light  systems, 
and  buildings,  Maj.  Hays, — with  seven  officers  and  four- 
hundred  men;  eighth,  Laundrying,  Drying  and  Renovating 
of  Clothing;  and,  ninth,  Conservation,  Segregation  and 
Reclamation,  Lieut.  Rowan. 

This  last  department  is  new  to  our  army  which  has 
hitherto  been,  like  the  Nation  itself,  extravagent,  at  least 
in  the  destruction  of  immense  "refuse"  none  of  which  is 
refused  now,  even  broken  glass  being  sold  back  to  factories 
for  seven  dollars  a  ton,  whereas  bottles  and  jars  bring  a 
good  price.  Tin  cans,  nearly  two  tons  a  day,  are  col- 
lected, flattened  under  a  press,  and  sold  in  fifty-pound 
blocks  for  ten  dollars  a  ton,  F.  O.  B.  Manure  is  con- 
tracted for  by  ranchers  and  sold,  160  tons  a  day.  Garbage 
is  carefully  assorted  in  Company  kitchens  and  placed  in 
the  several,  labeled  cans  which  are  washed  out  every  day. 
Ten  pounds  of  garbage  equals  one  pound  of  hog,  and  the 
man  who  has  secured  that  contract,  raises  more  than  3000 
hogs  near  Camp  Lewis.  All  grease  is  tried  out  now,  quite 
in  the  manner  of  a  careful  housewife,  and  when  you 
consider  that  every  soldier  at  camp  is  allowed  a  pound 
and  a  quarter  of  meat  a  day,  that  means  something. 
Ground  bones  produce  glycerine,  so  much  needed  now. 

Straw  from  enlisted  men's  mattresses  used  to  be 
burned,  now  it  becomes  bedding  for  horses.  Papers  and 


CAMP    LEWIS  359 

magazines,  were  also  burned,  but  thirty-five  tons  weekly 
spells  income,  in  these  days  of  paper  shortage,  so  they 
are  baled  and  shipped.  One  building  contributes  nothing 
to  this  saving,  however,  Division  Headquarters,  where  the 
contents  of  the  waste  basket  would  reveal  secrets  which 
the  enemy  would  pay  its  spies  well  to  gain.  Every  scrap 
of  paper  in  this  building  is  therefore  burned,  and  under 
the  eyes  of  an  officer. 

Baling  wire  has  never  been  re-used  until  this  very 
sensible  campaign  began  at  camp.  Now  it  is  straightened, 
wound,  and  comes  handy  in  the  Quartermaster  Depart- 
ment. Horse-hair  is  saved  when  shearing  is  necessary, 
and  sold  for  padding,  mattresses,  etc.  Sacks  which  used 
to  bring  three  cents  apiece,  if  anyone  saved  them,  bring 
from  sixteen  to  twenty  cents  apiece  now,  and  27,000  were 
shipped  at  one  time. 

Conservation  of  forests  is  a  modern  thing  in  the  United 
States,  but  trees  are  still  recklessly  felled  in  localities. 
Diasters  attendant  upon  the  Huns'  deliberate  destruction 
of  trees  in  Belgium  and  France,  have  made  people  think 
in  the  United  States.  At  first,  there  was  lack  of  system 
in  felling  timber  at  Camp  Lewis,  but  Gen.  Greene  issued 
an  order  that  no  trees  should  henceforth  be  cut  for  any 
purpose,  except  those  selected  and  marked  by  an  officer 
in  authority.  So  conserved,  the  fir  forests  upon  the  can- 
tonment will  last  for  generations.  Lumber,  too,  had  been 
recklessly  used,  and  left-overs  burned.  Uncle  Sam  has 
his  woodshed  now,  and  when  Aunt  Columbia  wants  a  coal- 
shed  built,  or  a  shelf  put  up,  young  Sammy  goes  there  and 
selects  from  what  there  is. 

Young  Sam  was  very  careless  with  his  clothes  too,  for 
Uncle  furnished  him  new  uniforms  when  his  were  worn 
or  even  torn.  Nowadays  he  is  not  given  a  new  suit  till 
his  old  has  had  as  many  new  parts  fitted  in  as  the  One 
Hoss  Shay  had. 

Lieut.  J.  V.  Rowan,  who  is  in  charge  of  this  entirely 
new  department  of  our  National  Army,  Conservation, 
Segregation  and  Reclamation,  has  really  accomplished 
wonders  in  the  short  period  of  its  operations,  and  is  en- 


360  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

thusiastic  in  devising  new  uses  for  old  things.  He  has 
already  schemed  out  so  many  that  there  is  not  enough 
actual  "trash  trash"  left  to  heat  necessary  hot  water,  and 
the  incinerator  itself  bids  fair  to  become  an  extravagance. 

With  pardonable  pride  the  Lieutenant  shows  warehouses 
containing  sorted  materials,  in  no  wise  harmed  for  other 
use,  packed  in  cases  whose  original  addresses  are  painted 
over,  and  strengthened  with  baling  wire  which  hitherto 
had  no  further  use  than  causing  profanity  from  entangled 
passersby.  Take  shoes,  for  instance,  men  who  have  "cob- 
bled" before,  are  working  at  up-to-date  electrically  driven 
machines  repairing  250  pairs  of  shoes  a  day.  Until  Spring 
these  were  sent  to  shops  in  nearby  cities  where  the  charge 
for  repairs  was  considerable,  beside  bringing  up  the  cost 
to  civilians.  Shoes  are  mended  with  new  materials  as 
long  as  they  are  worth  it,  and  then  with  the  better  parts 
of  other  worn-out  travelers.  Such  shoes  serve  for  un-dress 
parade,  anyway.  In  this  reformatory  not  only  are  soles 
saved,  but  every  scrap  of  leather,  grown  so  costly. 

My  family  laugh  at  the  "ridiculous  things"  I  conserve, 
so  nothing  Lieut.  Rowan  showed  of  his  reclamations  ex- 
ceeded mine  but  one,  I  must  give  him  credit  for  having 
a  large  box  with  thousands  upon  thousands  of  brass  rings 
which,  out  of  their  environment,  one  looks  at  twice  to 
recognize.  Yes,  small  eyelets  from  shoes,  in  one  packing 
box,  from  leggings,  in  an  other.  Canvas  leggings  are,  of 
course,  washable  and  lasting,  but  even  they  give  up  finally, 
as  leggings,  but  are  used  for  stiffening  in  coats  and  in 
many  other  ways. 

The  tailor  shop  employs  about  thirty  soldier  expert 
workers  repairing  uniforms  with  stout  portions  of  dis- 
carded garments,  which  match  better  than  new.  Rags 
are  sold.  Uniforms  are  dry-cleaned  for  twenty  cents. 

Since  Lieut.  Rowan  put  his  wits  to  work  upon  the 
problem,  the  only  point  of  vantage  in  the  army  of  the  Teu- 
tons is  lost,  for  it,  surely,  used  everything  but  humanity 
and  decency. 

Speaking  of  shoes,  'twas  while  the  Ninety-First  was 
at  Camp  Lewis  that  the  government  ordered  that  10,000 


CAMP    LEWIS  361 

men's  feet  should  be  measured,  and  both  feet,  for  few 
match.  This,  too,  was  conducted  under  charge  of  a  Q.  M. 
man,  Lieut.  J.  B.  Catlin,  with  Capt.  J.  C.  Carling  of  the 
Orthopedic  Department  as  consultant.  Your  Country  in- 
tends to  leave  no  stone  unturned — even  at  Camp  Lewis — 
to  make  its  sons  comfortable. 

The  United  States  Army  is  the  cleanest  in  the  world, 
inside  and  out.  It  is  protected  and  inspected  for  the 
former,  and  provided  for  and  inspected  for  the  latter. 
Soldiers  must  show  clean  clothes  once  a  week  and  the  Post 
Laundry  solves  the  problem,  handling  about  a  million 
pieces  monthly.  These  are  collected  and  returned  to 
barracks,  twice  a  week,  and  charged  against  the  men's 
pay,  at  cost.  Soldiers  have  little  time  for  doing  their 
own  laundry  work,  but  may  if  they  wish.  Nearly  200 
laundries  with  up-to-date  equipment  are  now  built  behind 
barracks,  also  drying  rooms.  Until  these  were  erected, 
soldiers  had  no  way  of  drying  heavy  uniforms  after  drill 
in  a  Puget  Sound  rainy  Winter.  Maj.  Hays,  one  of  the 
original  Construction  Quartermaster  Corps,  supervised 
this  great  improvement.  Another  officer  who  came  with 
Maj.  Stone,  was  associated  with  him  in  Camp  construction, 
and  was  one  of  the  last  to  leave  the  cantonment,  is  Capt. 
Howard  Smitten. 

Speaking  of  Camp  Lewis  pioneers,  recalls  Motor  Truck 
Company  No.  355,  which  was  the  First  organization  of 
any  kind  at  Camp  Lewis.  They  came  in  May,  and  their 
three-ton  trucks  hauled  lumber  for  the  cantonment  to  be. 
Lieut.  Fred  Neville,  of  Los  Angeles,  has  therefore  the 
distinction  of  being  the  First  Commanding  Officer  at  Camp 
Lewis.  Motor  Truck  Company  No.  355  celebrated  its 
birthday  with  a  dinner. 

In  country  general  stores,  carrying  everything  from 
a  baby  cap  to  a  coffin,  hangs  a  sign,  "If  you  don't  see 
what  you  want,  ask  for  it."  In  this  Wholesale  and  Retail, 
Buying  and  Selling,  Quartermaster's  Department  Store,  if 
you  don't  see  what  you  want  go  to  the  basement,  otherwise 
the  Miscellaneous  Detachment,  Capt.  John  Mayben,  Man- 
ager, who  has  the  largest  Company  force,  440  men.  These 


362  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

are  specialists.  There  is  not  a  bit  of  work  in  this  entire 
camp  city  that  some  man  in  this  human  miscellany  cannot 
do.  As  one  of  them  said,  "If  anything  new  turns  up,  and 
everybody  else  falls  down  on  it,  we  can,  and  do,  do  it." 
They  take  after  their  head.  Capt.  Mayben  had  years  of 
experience  in  the  regular  army,  was  in  the  subsistence 
department  at  Murray,  and  came  over  as  assistant  to 
Maj.  Stone  in  the  building  of  Camp  Lewis,  so  he  is  a 
pioneer  also.  He  was  afterward  designated  as  Camp  Dis- 
bursing Officer. 

There  was  a  Quartermaster  School  also,  conducted  by 
Lieut.  R.  J.  Graham  and  largely  attended  six  nightvS  in 
the  week  by  enlisted  men  hoping  for  appointment  to  the 
Quartermaster  Officers  Training,  at  Camp  Johnston. 
Lectures  were  given  by  experts  upon  the  varied  branches 
of  Q.  M.  Certainly,  in  all  its  arms,  there  never  was  a 
more  ambitious  cityful  of  men  than  you,  Ninety-First. 

The  fire  department  is  a  part  of  the  Camp  Q.  M.  D. 
Six  engine  houses  with  the  finest  of  modern  equipment 
and  manned  by  fifty  experienced  fire  fighters  protect  the 
camp.  Did  you  ever  think  how  well  a  city  like  Camp 
Lewis,  small  compared  with  others,  is  served,  because  of 
the  opportunity  of  choosing  experts  in  every  line,  from 
many  workers  trained  in  many  methods  and  localities? 
Some  of  these  men  enlisted,  others  were  selected  from  the 
draft  because  of  long  experience  in  fire  fighting. 

Lieut.  George  M.  Mantor,  formerly  battalion  chief  of 
Seattle's  Fire  Department,  is  in  command  at  Camp  Lewis, 
and  it  is  more  than  probable  that  neither  another  can- 
tonment, nor  any  city  in  the  United  States  holds  such  a 
wonderful  fire,  or  rather  fire-less,  record  as  Lieut.  Mantor 
has  established  there,  less  than  $2000  loss  in  ten  months. 

In  response  to  a  diaphone  alarm  which  has  been  in- 
stalled, every  building  is  instantly  vacated,  all  men 
lining  in  front  of  their  own  and  awaiting  further 
orders  or  dismissal  by  its  signal.  Fire  breaks  with 
hydrants  occur  at  regular  intervals  and  everything  pos- 
sible is  done  to  obviate  danger  of  fires.  The  copious  water 
supply  is  under  continual  guard  and  cannot  be  approached 


CAMP    LEWIS  363 

without  a  pass.  Three  firemen  are  detailed  to  every 
performance  at  Liberty  Theater. 

"Well,"  remarks  Mother,  "it  is  reassuring  to  learn 
that,  but  I  know  he  misses  my  bread."  Of  course  no  one 
would  be  brute  enough  to  deny  it,  but  the  fact  is  Son 
doesn't,  and  if  she  were  to  visit  the  great  bakehouse  be- 
yond Division  Headquarters  and  near  the  engine  house, 
she  would  know  why.  Looking  over  the  thousands  of 
loaves,  cooling  upon  racks  to  the  ceiling,  smelling  like  a 
year  of  home  bake-days,  the  expert  bakers  do  not  say, 
"Yes,  I  had  good  luck  with  my  bread  today."  There  is 
no  luck  about  it,  and  the  bread  is  always  good,  though 
Bakery  Company  No.  331,  Q.  M.  C.,  makes  eight  and  a  half 
tons  of  it  in  two-pound  loaves  which  are  distributed 
to  company  mess  sergeants  every  day.  There  are 
three  eight-hour  shifts.  The  mixers  begin  at  midnight 
and  work  till  six;  other  mixers  and  moulders  replace  them 
and  work  till  noon ;  the  third  shift  finishes. 

"They  must  have  enormous  mixing  machines,"  they 
have  none.  Such  conveniences  could  not  be  carried  to 
the  Field,  so  men  do  this  by  hand,  and  brawny  arm.  Each 
trough  holds  400  pounds,  and  three  men  work  it.  That 
is  a  man's  size  job,  too,  isn't  it  Mother?  Perhaps  that  is 
how  Hardini,  "the  handcuff  king,"  of  the  344th  Baker's 
Company,  Q.  M.  C.  keeps  up  his  practice.  He  certainly 
had  lost  no  skill  when  he  performed  in  the  "Miscellaneous" 
vaudeville  which  packed  the  big  Y-Auditorium. 

At  first,  what  was  sauce  for  the  goose  was  not,  as 
usual,  sauce  for  the  gander,  and  while  home  cooks  were 
struggling  with  substitutes,  Uncle  Sam's  men-folks  had 
nothing  but  wheat  bread.  However,  that  is  all  changed. 
His  bakers,  have  experimented  to  good  effect,  with  best 
results  for  oatmeal  or  one-third  rolled  oats,  Sergeant  says. 
It  certainly  tasted  good,  better  than  all-wheat  bread. 

The  immense  ovens  bake  3600  pounds  of  bread  an 
hour.  For  the  25,000  two-pound  loaves,  18,000  pounds  of 
flour  are  used,  250  pounds  of  sugar,  200  of  salt,  130  of 
compressed  yeast,  and  60  of  lard — quite  a  daily  baking, 
Mother.  Two  kinds  of  bread  are  made,  for  immediate 


364 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


use,  and  Field  bread.  The  latter  has  less  water  and, 
officially,  will  keep  fresh  for  two  weeks,  but  the  fact  is  that 
on  the  Mexican  Border,  Field  bread  was  perfectly  good 
three  months  after  baking,  dry  of  course,  but  after  wrap- 
ping in  wet  cloths  and  heating  for  fifteen  minutes,  it  tasted 
like  fresh-baked,  the  Sergeant  says.  Bread  is  kept  upon 
racks  for  twenty-four  hours,  being  indigestible  before. 

Behind  the  bakery  you  will  see  a  number  of  Field 
ovens,  which  are  in  constant  use  so  as  to  accustom  men  to 
work  in  the  open.  Each  oven  will  bake  108  two-pound 
loaves  an  hour.  These  ovens  are  collapsible  and  can  be 
readily  set  up  behind  the  lines,  for  baking  is  done  from 
forty  to  sixty  miles  to  the  rear  so  that  supplies  may  not 
be  seized.  It  speaks  well  for  the  bakers,  however,  that 
although  this  is  true,  and  pay  for  them  is  much  higher 


FIELD    OVEN  * 


*  Loaned  by  the  Pacific  Builder  and  Enginer,  to  which  magazine 
credit  Is  also  due  for  items  concerning  the  part  of  several  civilians  in 
building  the  cantonment. 


CAMP    LEWIS  365 

than  for  fighting  men,  being  $75  a  month,  while  they  drill 
but  one  hour  a  day,  there  are  never  enough,  so  that  the 
age  limit  was  first  removed  to  obtain  older  men  for  bakers. 
It  was  all  well  enough  to  tell  the  younger  enlisted  men 
that  food  wins  the  war,  but  they  wanted  to  wield  a  bay- 
onet instead  of  a  poker  and  be  "doughboys"  in  khaki,  not 
white.  The  government  furnishes,  and  launders,  three 
white  suits  and  twenty-four  undershirts.  The  latter, 
sleeveless,  are  worn  in  the  warm  rooms. 

Food  in  our  Army  used  to  be  furnished  raw  and  every 
man  cooked  his  own!  When  soldiers  discovered  some  one 
who  could  and  would  cook  for  them,  they  "chipped  in"  and 
paid  him  to  do  it.  Dishes  were  washed  at  least  once  dur- 
ing a  campaign.  Now,  a  mess  kitchen  and  pantry  would 
shame  any  housewife.  Every  article  upon  a  shelf  is  re- 
moved and  wiped  off  every  day  and  the  shelf  washed. 
When  my  pantry  heard  that,  it  did  not  say  one  word,  but 
it  looked  it. 

Did  you  know  that  there  is  a  large  Cooks'  School  con- 
stantly in  session  at  Camp  Lewis?  There  are  200  students 
from  the  various  organizations,  half  being  always  new. 
The  food  at  this  school  is  cooked  under  instruction,  and 
is  delicious.  The  Sergeant  in  charge  makes  out  menus 
and  is  allowed  pro  rata  in  drawing.  He  said  he  was  doing 
it  for  37.87  cents  a  day  apiece  and  had  cleared  $133  that 
month.  This  can  only  be  expended,  however,  for  food, 
which  seems  to  a  layman  very  much  like  pulling  your- 
self over  a  fence  by  your  bootstraps.  This  Mess  Sergeant 
was  trained  in  the  Regular  Army  Cooks'  School  at  Mon- 
terey, graduates  from  which  are  assigned  as  instructors 
to  sixteen  other  schools  in  different  States.  If  they  show 
aptitude,  after  their  training,  they  remain  for  another 
month  and  are  in  line  for  promotion. 

Students  were  preparing  a  meal  when  I  was  there, 
and  it  certainly  looked  good.  I  was  invited  to  look  for 
dirt  or  specks  of  dust,  even  on  the  rafters  and  pipes.  I 
looked  around  but  found  none,  and  not  being  a  fly,  took 
their  word  for  the  rafters,  as  they  are  wiped  off  every 
day.  The  floor  is  cleaned  as  often  and  every  cook  must 


366  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

take  a  bath  daily.  As  there  are  eleven  inspectors  whose 
sole  business  in  life  is  to  drop  in  any  minute  in  the  day, 
and  who  do — eight  had  already  investigated  things,  that 
morning — these  cooks  are  a  close  next  to  godliness.  Lieut. 
James  Atterbury  is  Division  Meat  Inspector. 

Wonder  what  Wilkes'  sailors  would  think  of  all  this? 
In  1841,  they  dug  the  first  trench  on  this  cantonment  and 
roasted  the  first  meat  here  by  hanging  an  ox  over  it  from 
saplings,  also  they  mixed  the  first  dough  on  these  premises 
in  a  hollowed  log. 

Each  company  in  the  91st  Division  now  has  two  cooks 
which  have  taken  a  two  months'  course  in  this  school  and 
there  is  absolutely  no  occasion  for  any  grumbling  at  the 
"chow"  served  at  any  mess  in  camp,  but,  you  know,  some 
men  would  complain  over  a  meal  on  Olympus  and  say  the 
ambrosia  of  the  gods  was  not  fit  to  drink.  At  first,  of 
course,  there  was  often  reason  from  complaint,  some 
companies  having  a  St.  Francis  chef  and  some  a  moving 
picture  star  who  thought  meals  grew  on  a  mahogany  table 
land.  Sergt.  Keegan  and  his  six  instructors  have  changed 
all  this.  Students  are  even  taught  the  different  acids  which 
aid  in  leavening. 

Cooks'  sleeves  bear  the  round  cap  of  their  trade  as 
emblem  upon  the  sleeve.  Capt.  I.  A.  de  Young  is  Division 
Mess  Officer  who  supervises  the  entire  school  and,  in 
general,  the  cantonment  mess  condition.  He  was  Senior 
Grade  Instructor  at  Monterey.  The  War  Department  even 
sent  their  best  man  in  this  branch  to  Camp  Lewis. 

Lieut.  Harold  Mallum  is  in  charge  of  Food  Conserva- 
tion, as  he  was  of  the  financial  end  of  the  All-Star  Foot- 
ball game  in  the  Fall.  He  became  an  authority  in  this 
campaign  in  rather  an  odd  manner.  While  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  California  he  became  interested  in  the  subject  of 
dietetics  and  nutrition.  There  were  plenty  of  doctors; 
he  would  forestall  them.  He  headed  the  work  for  forty 
Fraternity  Houses,  keeping  forty-two  sets  of  books.  He 
served  upon  a  committee  with  Dr.  Wylie,  national  organ- 
izer, 1914.  Lieut.  Mallum  was  called  to  Columbia  Col- 
lege where  he  spent  the  next  year,  then  returned  to  San 


CAMP   LEWIS 


367 


LIEUT.    HAROLD    MALLUM 

Francisco  and  was  concerned  with  the  dining  car  system 
of  the  Southern  Pacific.  He  attended  the  Presidio  Train- 
ing Camp  and  is  now  assistant  to  Capt.  de  Young  and  in 

immediate  charge  of  food  conservation. 

******  **** 

Nothing  is  more  significant  of  the  great  change  from 
the  Regular  Army  of  the  United  States  of  but  a  few  years 
back,  to  our  new  National  Army,  than  the  difference  be- 
tween the  former's  Canteen  and  the  latter's  Post  Exchange. 
The  canteen,  selling  liquor  which  brought  its  buyers  noth- 
ing but  the  guardhouse  and  empty  pockets,  and  the  Post 
Exchange  where  nothing  stronger  than  pop  is  sold,  but 
almost  everything  else  that  a  soldier  wants,  and  whose 
profits  return,  if  not  into  his  individual  pockets,  into  those 


368  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

of  his  Company.  There  is  an  Exchange  contiguous  to 
every  organization,  twenty-two,  with  more  building,  and 
a  soldier  is  supposed  to  patronize  his  own.  If  he  does  not, 
the  profits  upon  his  purchases  remain  outside  his  unit. 
When  dividends  are  declared,  the  Companies  may  expend 
them  as  they  agree.  For  instance,  Company  I,  361st. 
Infantry,  gave  a  St.  Patrick's  day  dinner  to  officers  of  other 
Companies  in  their  regiment  in  recognition  of  their  ex- 
penditures at  the  Post  Exchange,  whose  dividends  had 
just  purchased  Company  I  a  pool  table,  $150  worth  of 
baseball  paraphernalia,  and  several  sets  of  boxing  gloves. 
Dividends  are  computed  monthly  and  paid  in  proportion 
to  Company  strength.  Smokers,  banquets,  balls,  improve- 
ments around  barracks,  etc.,  all  result  from  Post  Exchange 
dividends. 

Another  advantage,  as  the  soldiers  view  it,  but  a 
doubtful  one;  since  some  spend  more  by  coupon  than  they 
can  afford  or  would  spend  if  they  handed  over  cash,  is 
credit.  Through  their  Company  Commander,  men  out  of 
money  may  obtain  coupons  good  till  pay  day. 

Soldiers  can  buy  almost  anything  they  need  at  these 
camp  stores  without  going  to  town,  but  trade  is  prin- 
cipally in  tobacco,  ice  cream,  candy,  and  pop.  Judging 
by  the  average  sale  of  144,000  bottles  of  pop  a  month  at 
Camp  Lewis,  thousands  of  men  were  brought  up  on  the 
bottle  and  have  never  been  weaned  from  it.  Wonder  if 
they  really  like  pop,  which  tastes  as  it  sounds,  or  just 
like  a  bottle?  That  many  have  been  accustomed  to  liquor, 
accounts  for  the  tremendous  sale  of  candy  which  men  find 
dulls  desire  for  stimulants.  This  is  particularly  true  of 
Californians.  The  Post  Exchange  adjacent  to  the  364th 
Infantry  takes  in  $500  a  day  for  candy  alone.  One  of 
the  four  Depot  Brigade  Exchanges  sold  $2200  worth  of 
candy  May  18,  and  a  soldier's  candy  day  is  from  about 
5:15  P.  M.  to  10:45  P.  M.  During  May,  that  Exchange 
took  in  $41,000  for  trifles.  No  wonder  the  government  has 
advertised  for  500,000  pounds  of  candy  for  overseas 
soldiers,  and  notifies  manufacturers  that  successful  bid- 
ders will  be  furnished  requisite  sugar!  No  wonder  home 


CAMP    LEWIS  369 

people  are  allowed  but  two  pounds  of  sugar  a  month! 
Government  is  also  catering  to  the  national  vice,  by 
advertising  for  400,000  packages  of  chewing  gum.  For- 
eigners say  American  jaws  never  rest,  and  they  are  al- 
most right.  The  Depot  Brigade  Exchanges  do  the  biggest 
business,  because  the  new  men  are  quartered  there,  and 
at  first  they  eat,  it  does  seem,  for  company.  Bar  chocolate 
is  a  great  favorite  and  fancy  cakes  and  ice  cream  cones. 
They  are  like  so  many  children  for  such  things.  No 
wonder  that,  according  to  camp  auditing,  the  enormous 
sum  of  $1,777,676  was  spent  by  the  91st  Division  in  its 
Exchanges  up  to  May  30,  and  this  mostly  in  small  sums, 
as  the  cash  registers  recording  them  prove.  They  indicate 
25,000,000  sales!  The  profits,  since  neither  labor  nor 
rent  and  its  incidentals  do  not  cut  in,  are  from  twenty 
to  twenty-five  percent,  all,  as  has  been  said,  in  dividends 
to  Company  funds.  The  next  Division  will  have  more 
and  larger  Post  Exchanges. 

The  Division  Post  Exchange  officer  for  the  Ninety- 
First  is  Capt  Dieterick  Oldenborg,  who  has  been  made 
Camp  Exchange  Commander  and  so  remains  at  the  can- 
tonment. 

A  New  Yorker,  his  family  an  old  one  of  Holland 
extraction,  he  was  graduated  from  Yale  in  1912.  Hav- 
ing taken  an  engineering  course,  he  entered  upon  an 
adventurous  career  in  several  lands.  He  and  a  college 
friend  mined  in  New  Mexico.  He  went  to  Old  Mexico 
and  South  America,  being  connected  with  the  world-wide 
activities  of  Standard  Oil,  and  finally  started  for  Asia 
Minor  with  a  shipload  of  three-inch  galvanized  pipe, 
miles  of  it,  early  in  August,  1914.  Palestine,  of  all 
countries  to  be  mentioned  in  connection  with  Standard 
Oil,  had  struck  oil!  Humanly  speaking,  the  Holy  Land 
was  to  be  delivered  from  the  Unspeakable  Turk  and  the 
Unthinkable  Hun  by  a  shipload  of  pipe  commandeered  by 
a  young  American  not  even  in  uniform  then. 

He  had  sailed  for  Jaffa,  but  while  at  sea  his  company 
ordered  him,  by  wireless,  not  to  proceed  to  that  post,  so 
he  landed  the  pipe  at  Alexandria.  That  he  did  so,  re- 

§  25 


370 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CAPT.    DIETKRICK    OLDENBORG 

suited  in  the  entrance  of  the  British  into  Jerusalem,  for 
their  troops  could  never  have  crossed  the  Sahara  without 
water,  and  those  miles  of  pipe  taken  for  oil,  furnished  it. 

So  the  unholy  Germans  lost  the  Holy  City,  and  the 
Jews  will  come  at  last  to  their  Father's  house,  and  the 
flag  of  David  flies  in  the  City  of  David,  and  Dieterick 
Oldenborg  was  the  unwitting  instrument  of  the  marvel. 

Capt.  Oldenborg  saw  much  of  the  mobilization  of 
the  Turks  and  their  rapid  training  under  Prussian 
brutality.  He  returned  to  this  Country  and  decided  to 
enter  the  reserve  officers  training  camp  at  Plattsburg, 
not  that  he  then  anticipated  our  entrance  into  the  war, 
but  he  wanted  the  experience.  So  now  he  is  Captain 


CAMP    LEWIS  371 

and  Post  Exchange  Officer  and  the  husband  of  Miss 
Maisie  McMaster  whom  he  met  at  Hostess  House,  in  a 
camp  that  is  training  men  for  a  war  which,  four  years 
ago  did  not  seem  likely  to  engulf  us.  Be  sure  that  of 
all  this  Dieterick  Oldenborg  expected  nothing  when  his 
chief  worry  was  to  find  room  for  himself  in  a  stateroom 
on  that  vessel  bound  for  Jaffa,  for  Capt.  Oldenborg  is  a 
giant,  yet  so  well  built  that  you  would  hardly  credit  him, 
when  standing  apart  from  other  men,  with  his  six-feet- 
six  of  height. 


372  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER    XX 

THE  INTELLIGENCE  SCHOOL — CAMP  LEWIS'  NO  MAN'S  LAND 
—  LIEUT.  SHAW  —  S.  0.  S.,  SCOUTING,  OBSERVATION, 
SNIPING — GAS  TRENCHES,  DRILL,  PRECAUTIONS — LIEUT. 
WARRELL — CAPT.  CHAMPION  AND  SERGEANT  MIRAT. 

Tis  rather  a  steep  road  from  the  far  side  of  the 
cantonment  up  to  No  Man's  Land,  typically  steep,  ris- 
ing from  the  level  of  ordinary  life  to  the  heights  of 
sacrifice  and  death  which  this  No  Man's  Land  forebodes, 
and  it  hugs  the  pleasant  hillside  all  the  way.  One  turns 
often  to  look  back  and  down,  oftener  near  the  top, 
where  the  whole  cantonment  spreads  to  view,  bounded  by 
low  wooded  hills,  Mt.  Tacoma  far  to  the  East,  American 
Lake  near  to  the  West,  the  great  maneuvers  plain  in  the 
center  stretching  to  the  broad  Artillery  ranges  on  the 
far  side,  to  the  Rifle  ranges  and  the  paddocks  beyond 
the  Remount  on  the  near,  very  beautiful,  very  peaceful. 
But  from  it  all  your  eyes  will  turn  to  the  camp  itself, 
which,  from  Headquarters  buildings,  along  three  wide 
thoroughfares,  follows  the  low  hills  on  both  sides,  turning 
beckwards  a  little  at  the  ends  and  forming,  as  for  the 
last  time  you  turn  to  look,  a  giant  wishbone.  Myriad 
the  wishes  that  have  formed  it,  that  dwell  within  it,  that 
draw  toward  it! 

Back  from  the  brow  of  the  hill,  at  the  edge  of  the 
wood,  is  an  upland  flat  of  glacier  bed  which  has  been 
converted  into  a  No  Man's  Land  ac  desolate,  surelv-  »s 
its  namesake.  Trenches  of  regulation  depth  and  width 
have  been  dug,  with  "islands"  as  in  France.  These  are 
squares  of  ground  at  intervals  bounded  on  all  sides  by 
trenches,  so  that  when  the  wounded  are  carried  back  at 


CAMP    LEWIS  373 

one  side  they  may  not  meet  and  hinder  those  who  go 
to  dare  the  same  fate,  islands  swept  by  a  rushing  tide  of 
destruction,  an  ebb-tide  of  human  wreckage.  Here  and 
there  shell  holes  gape.  Beyond  are  barbed  wire  entangle- 
ments which  define  the  enemy's  side,  hung  with  cans, 
bits  of  iron,  anything  to  sound  the  alarm  at  a  touch,  and, 
entangled,  human-like  forms.  Stray  "bodies"  lie  upon 
the  ground  and  at  varying  heights,  bayonet  targets. 

The  forest  had  never  encroached  upon  this  place, 
knowing  ages  ago  that  it  was  to  serve  a  special  purpose, 
not  of  weal  but  wile,  should  bear  not  grain  but  brain; 
for  of  this  stone  foundation  is  the  Academy  of  Mars, 
whereon  no  halls  uprise  but  wherein  many  sink,  the 
School  of  Intelligence.  Surely  of  all  the  schools  conducted 
at  Camp  Lewis,  which  itself  might  be  called  the  common 
school,  and  these  others  (Signal,  Divisional  Arms,  Bakers', 
Horseshoers'  and  the  like),  technical;  with  Officers  Train- 
ing Camp,  the  finishing  school — did  not  that  suggest  the 
idiotic  name  of  a  generally  idiotic  school  for  turning  out 
debutantes,  the  antithesis  of  a  School  of  Intelligence, — 
the  last  is  surely  the  most  interesting.  Its  short  name 
is  the  S.  0.  S.,  not  referring  to  the  distress  call,  though 
its  course  prevents  such  need,  but  Scouting,  Observation 
and  Sniping.  To  this  school  are  detailed  men  picked  from 
the  intelligence  section  of  every  fighting  organization  in 
camp,  men  found  fitted  for  this  dangerous  but  fascinating 
work,  wherein  more  must  be  learned  than  can  be  taught. 
Such  schools  are  new  to  our  army,  as,  in  fact,  to  any 
other,  as  the  problems  worked  out  by  them  have  never 
before  been  proposed. 

Camp  Lewis  had  the  First  Intelligence  School  under 
way  in  the  cantonments.  It  was  originated  by  Captain, 
now  Major,  E.  A.  Powell,  American  war  correspondent, 
who,  though  not  a  fighter,  nor  trained  in  intelligence  work 
himself,  had  observed  much  upon  many  points  since  the 
beginning  of  this  war.  He  was  joined  by  Lieut.  R.  Leslie 
Shaw,  of  the  British  Military  Detail,  who  had  distinguished 
himself  in  intelligence  work  with  the  army  in  France. 
Shaw  joined  the  Sherwood  Foresters,  whose  name  recalls. 


374  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

the  adroit  daring  of  Robin  Hood,  in  August,  1914,  but 
was  transferred  to  a  Bedfordshire  regiment  the  next 
January,  with  which  he  served  in  France,  a  part  of  the 
famous  7th  Division.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Looz  that  year,  and  again  at  the  Somme  in  1916.  In- 
valided home,  he  was  ordered  *«  -^he  United  States  with 
the  Mission  and  sent  to  Camp  T-*»wis  in  October,  1917. 
Lieut.  Shaw  was  especially  trained  for  intelligence  work 
at  the  Sniping  School  at  Aldershot,  which,  oddly,  means 
Oldshot,  and  also  in  the  First  Army  School  in  France. 
So  that  the  91st  Division  may  again  congratulate  itself 
in  havine  the  best  of  practical  and  oracticed  instruction. 

Details,  of  course,  of  intelligence  work  are  not  allow- 
able, but  enough  can  be  touched  upon  to  interest.  If 
you  drop  the  er  from  escouter,  French  for  to  listen,  to 
hear,  watch,  observe,  you  will  have  their  word  for  spy; 
if  you  clip  the  e,  'tis  the  American  form  which  we  like  bet- 
ter, scout.  No  better  scouts  has  the  world  ever  known 
than  American-Americans,  Indians,  and  those  associated 
with  them  in  olden  times.  Of  the  former,  but  of  course 
of  peaceful  generations,  more  than  5,000  enlisted  in  our 
army,  and  many  are  being  drafted;  of  the  latter,  a  few 
still  remain,  with  whom  others,  like  Capt.  Thornberry, 
have  been  trained.  Capt.  Thornberry  has  been  invaluable 
to  the  Intelligence  School  since  its  inception  until  trans- 
ferred to  the  Military  Police  in  Spring.  He  taught  jui- 
jitsu  and  trained  others  to  give  instruction  in  that  which 
enables  a  man,  surprised  and  unarmed,  to  protect  himself 
and  to  kill  his  foe. 

Scouting  parties  are  sent  out  from  the  Intelligence 
School  to  bring  in  maps  of  "enemy  country"  and  informa- 
tion of  every  kind.  These  men  must  evade  sentries  and 
prowlers  from  the  other  side,  and  in  broad  daylight 
return  undiscovered  to  their  quarters  on  No  Man's  Land, 
which  has  two  sets  of  trenches,  understand,  exact 
replica  of  an  Allies  versus  Hun  section  in  France.  This 
is  no  easy  task  for  anyone,  especially  for  a  city  man 
whose  house  stands  two  blocks  from  a  street  car,  or  a 
sidewalk  distant  from  his  auto,  whose  beaten  track  is 


CAMP    LEWIS  375 

from  an  elevator  to  a  desk,  and  on  to  a  bookcase.  Such 
a  man  has  never  crawled  since  he  learned  to  walk,  never 
climbed  since  he  was  a  boy,  never  walked  since  he  rode, 
and  would  drop  with  heart  failure  if  he  ran.  He  cannot 
swim,  yet  is  utterly  at  sea  in  a  wood  "where  you  can't 
tell  where  you  are,  every  tree  looks  like  every  other," 
and  even  a  country  road  is  destitute  of  street  signs  and 
numbers. 

It  is  strange  how  soon  this  fellow  learns  to  reconnoitre, 
to  recognize,  to  know  again  where  once  he  has  passed, 
to  read  a  signboard  in  a  broken  twig.  There  was 
First-Lieutenant  De  Witt  Evans,  Tacoma  lawyer,  who, 
graduated  from  the  Presidio  Training  Camp,  was 
detailed  to  the  363rd  Infantry  Headquarters  Company 
Intelligence  Section.  He  picked  his  men,  naturally 
largely  from  his  own  college,  Stanford,  as  the  363rd  is 
Californian.  Their  trained  minds  gloried  in  the  brain, 
and  their  athletics  in  the  brawn,  of  this  new  school.  He 
had  charge  of — it  is  not  wise  to  give  numbers,  and  was 
kept  as  Instructor  in  the  Intelligence  Department  where 
he  had  much  to  do  with  the  building  of  No  Man's  Land. 

His  company  were  expert  map-makers,  which  recalls 
the  incident  related  by  Prof.  Charles  Upson  Clark  of  .the 
American  Academy  in  Rome,  showing  the  extent  of  Ger- 
man spy  work  in  our  own  country  before  the  war.  One 
of  our  officers  was  in  Berlin  and  was  being  shown  through 
the  Intelligence  offices.  Scarcely  thinking  it  possible,  the 
American  asked  if  his  was  there.  It  was,  and  he  read 
the  added  data  that  he  lived  near  Utica,  N.  Y.,  upon  an 
acre  of  ground  having  two  wells.  Astounded,  he  admitted 
all  except  the  wells,  there  was  but  one,  he  said.  Returning 
to  the  States,  he  found  the  German  spy  right,  there  was 
an  old  well,  overgrown!  Lieut.  Evans  went  to  France 
with  the  91st,  where  he  will  be  commissioned,  as  all  in 
charge  of  Intelligence  work  in  our  Army  abroad  are, 
Captain. 

"A  fellow  needs  as  many  eyes  as  a  fly  in  this  scout 
business.  Instead,  he  has  as  many  feet  as  a  centipede, 
every  one  of  them  cracking  a  twig,  dislodging  a  stone,  or 


376  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

raising  a  dust."  Yet  the  parties  do  wonders  on  the  scout- 
ing tours,  one  whole  company  succeeding  in  swimming  a 
river  under  equipment  and  evading  patrols.  They  are 
taught  to  keep  out  of  sight  till  it  becomes  second  nature, 
and  to  go  softly. 

In  order  to  teach  men  to  crawl  in  and  out  of  shell 
holes,  to  find  their  way  in  the  dark,  and  still  to  be  in 
plain  view  of  their  instructors  who  could  see  the  mis- 
takes, goggles  of  darkened  glass  were  adopted  which  make 
a  sunny  day  black  night.  Toward  the  end  of  the  training, 
long  night  reconnaissances  were  made,  and  their  errors 
freely  discussed  afterward.  This  is  where  the  foreign 
officers  are  especially  valuable,  forestalling  the  blunders 
which  cost  them  so  much  in  the  early  days  of  the  war,  and 
bringing  their  dear-bought  experience  to  bear. 

Scouts  must  be  strong  of  body  and  wit.  Men  have 
"hiked"  and  jumped  and  the  rest  of  it  before  being  ad- 
mitted to  this  school,  even  then  athletes  they  must  be. 
They  see  how  going  hand  over  hand  up  a  rope  twenty 
feet  in  two  seconds  counts,  not  only  in  your  life,  but  in 
the  lives  of  your  regiment  for  which  you  advance  into 
and  beyond  the  outposts  of  the  enemy  at  night,  so  that 
this  Intelligence  practice  is  no  game,  even  if  a  man  is 
"dead"  when  discovered  and  gone  when  captured,  quite 
as  when  we  played  I-spy,  only  we  called  it  Hi-spy  in  the 
days  of  long  ago. 

Sniping,  snipping,  or  clipping,  speaks  for  itself.  It  is 
something  in  which  Americans  have  always  excelled.  It 
is  the  exposed,  detached,  perilous  picking  off  of  those  who 
like  themselves  are  doing  especial  duty.  Shooting  com- 
pares— Positive  Marksman,  Comparative  Rifleman,  Super- 
lative Sniper.  Lieut.  Shaw  and  Sergt.  C.  F.  Nicholos  of  a 
Hampshire  regiment  are  the  Sniping  Officers. 

If  you  know  the  way,  you  may  wiggle  along  in  and  out 
and  find  yourself  in  an  observation  dugout  which  is  bur- 
rowed below  the  hilltop  and  has  long  narrow  slits  of  eyes 
peering  out  from  its  face  at  the  side  of  the  hill.  Dun 
colored  mosquito  netting  fringes  the  wooden  eyelids,  and 
bushes  and  grass  veil  it.  All  about  this  listening  post  is 
so  artistically  camouflaged  by  the  intelligence  men  that 


CAMP    LEWIS  377 

even  after  one  has  been  there  and  gone  but  a  little  distance 
it  is  difficult  to  find  the  place.  "We  had  it  too  green  at 
first,"  said  Maj.  Powell  "We  noticed  the  surroundings 
were  browner.  It  is  rather  a  good  job." 

This  observation  dugout  is  thirteen  feet  square  and 
shellproof,  being  covered  with  twenty-one  feet  of  logs  and 
earth,  the  former  laid  first  one  way  then  the  other.  Within 
are  telescopes  for  watching  everything  and  everybody, 
near  and  far,  and  intelligence  men  are  always  the  brain 
behind  those  eyes.  In  these  and  many  other  ways  do  they 
see  and  hear  and  listen. 

But  into  modern  war,  through  the  savagery  of  the 
Huns,  has  come  necessity  for  smell,  a  neglected  sense,  the 
very  name  of  which  is  somehow  discredited.  It  is  insult- 
ing to  savages  to  couple  them  with  Huns,  though — 

"The  savage  mind  ivas  narrow. 

That's  how  it  came  to  pass 
Men  used  a  poisoned  arrow 

Instead  of  poisoned  gas." 

Most  men  seem  largely  deficient  in  the  sense  of  smell, 
which  is  being  cultivated  as  first  protection  against  this 
cowardly  method  of  killing.  In  the  early  days  of  the  war 
the  Allies  were  unprepared  for  it.  Maj.  Powell  said  he 
should  never  forget  seeing  three-hundred  writhing  in  long 
torture,  slowly  dying  like  fish,  gasping.  This  was  after 
the  first  use  of  devils'  breath  at  Ypres  in  April,  1915,  but 
soon  masks  were  invented,  and  now  it  is  unwatchfulness 
or  carelessness  in  adjusting  masks  that  is  chargeable  for 
casualties.  Up  here  in  No  Man's  Land  are  the  gas  trenches 
where  not  only  the  Intelligence  workers,  but  every  man 
in  Camp  Lewis  from  its  Commandant  down,  aye  and  the 
women,  nurses,  who  are  to  go  overseas,  practice  with  gas 
masks.  They  make  men  look  like  a  combination  of  deep 
sea  diver,  nightmare  bird  of  prey,  and  grotesque  demon, 
and  the  Germans,  for  all  time  to  come,  have  fastened 
that  hideous  mask  to  their  own  faces.  A  strong  clip 
clamps  the  nostrils  so  that  it  is  impossible  to  breathe 


378  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

through  them,  a  large  flexible  tube  connected  to  a  canister 
filled  with  -chemicals  goes  to  the  mouth.  This  secret 
compound  robs  the  air  of  its  poison.  A  mask  of  rubber- 
ized cotton,  made  to  conform  closely  to  various  types  of 
face,  covers  the  head  to  the  ears,  and  two  broad  elastic 
bands  hold  it.  Glass  or  celluloid  covers  the  eyes  and  a 
valve  of  rubber  discharges  the  breath.  The  whole  folds 
compactly,  for  the  hose  is  "accordion-plaited",  and  slips 
into  a  small  knapsack  of  canvas  which  is  constantly  worn, 
at  the  hip  except  when  "at  alert"  when  it  hangs  upon 
the  chest. 

Visitors  to  Camp  Lewis  often  watch  groups  of  men, 
under  charge  of  a  Sergeant,  learning  to  adjust  masks 
rapidly.  Like  everything  else  there,  it  is  taught  with 
military  precision,  just  so  many  motions  and  in  prescribed 
order. 

"Gas!"  calls  the  sergeant.  Soldiers  unbutton  the  flap 
of  the  knapsack,  remove  mask,  adjust  rubber  mouthpiece, 
clip  the  nose  clamps,  toss  head  to  one  side,  slip  on  the 
elastic  bands,  while  he  counts.  "Six,"  said  one  to  begin- 
ners. "You  fellows  would  have  a  good  lungful  of  gas  by 
six.  The  last  lot  did  it  in  four  at  the  start."  They  re- 
duced it,  of  course.  When  awkardness  means  death,  and 
skill  safety,  a  class  is  bound  to  be  attentive. 

These  masks  have  been  improved  from  time  to  time 
and  made  to  last  longer,  for  the  chemicals  must  be  changed. 
Five  hours  is  about  the  limit  of  use,  but  of  course  gas 
attacks  never  last  that  long.  A  soldier  carries  two  of 
these  canisters  at  the  Front.  Every  mask  is  fitted  to  its 
owner  and  worn,  later,  in  a  gas  chamber  to  be  sure  it 
fits  perfectly  and  does  not  leak.  After  much  drilling  to 
make  sure  of  quick  adjustment,  men  are  taken  to  the 
trenches  and  accustomed  to  the  presence  of  gas.  The 
United  States  has  kept  ahead  of  the  Germans  from  the 
first  and  our  Country's  gas  masks  are  the  best,  in  fact 
they  afford  perfect  protection.  So  mothers,  don't  worry. 
As  Son  himself  admits,  it  is  "up  to"  him  to  be  safe. 

A  drill  at  the  trenches  is  interesting  and  reassuring. 
If  you  look  at  the  dugout  cut  you  will  see  the  doorway 


CAMP    LEWIS  379 

which  leads  within.  To  it  are  hung  heavy  double  blankets. 
Any  housekeeper  will  know  no  gas  can  penetrate  them. 
Men  are  constantly  on  the  watch  for  the  yellowish  green 
and  greenish  brown  gas  which,  being  heavier  than  air, 
creeps  like  the  serpent-thing  it  is,  along  the  ground.  We 
gain  what  we  use,  so  soldiers  are  becoming  quick  to  smell 
the  evil  thing,  sweetish,  stifling,  sickening.  The  moment 
it  is  detected  every  man  raises  his  voice  in  one  word, 
Gas,  Gas!  and  so  yelling,  adjusts  his  mask  and  rushes  to 
the  noise-makers  for  a  general  alarm.  At  Camp  Lewis 
there  are  large  iron  triangles  with  striker  attached  hung 
by  the  blankets,  which  are  to  be  instantly  dropped.  The 
din  occasioned  by  these  triangles  would  alarm  Dahomey, 
if  that  synonym  for  savagery,  had  taken  to  gassing.  In 
some  trenches  ratchets  are  wound,  large  rattles  shaken, 
horns  blown.  In  fact  part  of  the  training  in  the  gas 
school  is  to  contrive  alarms  with  anything  at  hand,  and 
men  are  encouraged  to  ingenuity. 

Capt.  Pontius  of  the  Medical  Department  was  conduct- 
ing drill  in  the  gas-trenches — gas  work  has  since  been 
transferred  to  the  Engineers.  He  explained  its  workings 
and  the  absolute  protection  of  the  respirator.  Then  car- 
boys were  partly  uncocked  and  chlorine  gas  was  seen  and 
smelled,  the  blankets  were  dropped,  triangles  pounded, 
masks  adjusted.  If  I  had  doubted  the  efficacy  of  the 
blanket  dugout  portieres,  the  sickening  odor  of  the  suit 
worn  there,  proved  it  for  days  after. 

When  the  gas  had  settled  to  the  bottom  of  the  trench, 
a  soldier  at  each  end  began  beating  it  out,  each  advancing 
toward  the  center.  They  used  short-handled  "flappers," 
large  fan-shaped  pieces  of  stout  canvas  which  were  struck 
flat  upon  the  ground,  dissipating  the  gas.  This  is  done 
till  no  odor  can  be  detected. 

After  other  preparation,  soldiers  drill  and  march  at 
double-quick  wearing  the  clumsy  head  gear,  and,  at  the 
last,  enter  gas-filled  dugouts  without  fear,  knowing  the 
respirators  are  safe. 

If  all  Home  Folks  could  visit  Camp  Lewis,  see  for 
themselves  the  training  and  precautions  against  gas,  and 


380 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


remember  that  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  seventeen  expert 
chemists  directed  by  the  greatest  in  this  country  are  work- 
ing to  nullify  all  such  inventions,  and,  the  pity  of  it,  to 
invent  more  terrible  for  our  own  army,  they  would  real- 
ize that  German  gas  is  less  to  be  feared  than  even  Ger- 
man U-boat.  At  first  Hun  preparedness  was  fitted  against 
Un-preparedness,  the  most  hampering  of  which  was  per- 


LIEUT.    F.    H.    PUGH 

sistent  faith  in  the  human-ness  of  the  Prussian;  but  as 
soon  as  we  saw  his  hoof  and  horns,  we  prepared  to  fight 
the  Devil  like  the  Devil.  Why,  even  the  French  and 
British  who  had  fought  the  Prussians,  did  not  believe  a 
German  prisoner  who  told  them  that  the  Huns  had  gas 
cylinders  ready  to  turn  upon  Ypres.  Gas  was  forbidden 
by  the  Hague  Treaty.  Strange  they  should  have  already 


CAMP    LEWIS  381 

forgotten  that  to  the  Teutons  a  treaty  was  but  "a  scrap 
of  paper."  So  thousands  died,  and  a  captured  cylinder 
told  how  and  that  the  gas  was  chlorine. 

The  British  sent  to  us  men  of  experience  in  the  new 
horror  as  instructors,  Lieut.  F.  H.  Pugh  of  their  Army 
Service  Corps  and  Sergt.  B.  Campbell  of  the  Connaught 
Rangers.  Like  the  others,  Lieut.  Pugh  fought  at  Looz  and 
other  battles,  and  the  rest  of  the  detail  speaks  warmly 
of  his  life  at  Camp  Lewis.  "Such  fine  fellows,  they  have 
treated  us  like  brothers.  How  I  hope  we  shall  fight  side 
by  side."  Probably  they  were  treated  as  brothers  because 
they  were  like  them.  Such  fine,  clean,  brave  young  fellows, 
those  Britishers! 

Lieut.  W.  R.  Warrell,  of  the  British  Military  Mission, 
came  to  Camp  Lewis  as  bayonet  instructor,  after  recovery 
from  the  then  new  "mustard  gas"  used  first  by  the  Ger- 
mans in  July,  1917.  When  the  bombs  began  to  fall,  he 
said,  the  men  donned  their  respirators  not  knowing  the 
effect  of  mustard  gas,  which  is  to  burn  deep  wherever  there 
is  the  slightest  moisture,  so  that  the  mouth  and  eyes  are 
always  affected,  and  other  parts  of  the  body  that  are  per- 
spiring. It  was  a  fortnight  before  he  could  see,  and  weeks 
before  speech  returned,  of  course  the  burns  were  very 
painful  and  recovery  slow.  Injuries  from  this  gas  are 
now  obviated  by  bathing  men  exposed  to  it  with  a 
solution  which  prevents  burns,  and  which  is  kept  close 
at  hand.  Lieut.  Warrell  fought  at  Verdun  and  the  Marne, 
how  well,  the  Victoria  Cross  attests.  Those  Canadians 
are  as  bad  as  the  Scotch  at  Waterloo,  of  whom  it  was 
said  it  was  not  enough  to  kill  them,  they  must  be  pushed 
over.  Sergt.  L.  F.  Morris,  Canadian  Infantry,  is  with  him, 
instructing,  both  being  experts  with  the  bayonet. 

This  big-boy  nation  of  ours  is  surely  entitled  to  credit 
for  one  thing  not  often  to  be  found  in  the  young,  especially 
in  the  growing  and  precocious  young,  who  are  sadly  apt 
to  be  cocksure  and  generally  unteachable  at  that  period. 
We  have  asked  to  be  instructed  by  those  more  experienced 
in  war  than  we  and  have  welcomed  their  Military  Missions 
to  our  cantonments.  All  the  officers,  British  and  French, 


382 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CAMP    LEWIS  383 

are  loud  in  praise  not  only  of  the  eagerness  and  aptitude, 
the  skill  so  readily  acquired  by  our  army  of  civilians,  but 
of  the  temper  of  our  regulars  and  spirit  of  their  officers, 
welcoming  foreigners  and  gratefully  accepting  their  in- 
struction not  only  in  new  forms  of  warfare,  but  in  new 
methods  of  old  in  which  Americans  had  earlier  distin- 
guished themselves.  There  is  the  bayonet,  for  instance. 
Our  army  had  used  it  as  well  as  others,  though  it  was  a 
weapon  which  went  against  the  National  grain  until  the 
Germans  used  it  to  dispatch  our  wounded,  then  it  be- 
hooved us  to  whet  both  weapon  and  appetite.  Bayonets 
had  changed  little  since  1670  when  they  were  simply 
knives  bound  to  muskets  at  Bayonne,  France,  except  that 
they  were  clipped  into  sockets  designed  for  them  upon 
rifles;  but  our  Ordnance  Department  is  now  furnishing 
bayonets  which  are  un-safety  razors — for  Huns — and 
Lieut.  Warrell  and  Sergt.  Morris  are  furnishing  experience. 
Camouflage  is  French  for  a  practice  old  as  arms,  mili- 
tary disguise,  deception.  Remember  how  the  coward 
Macbeth  was  emboldened  by  the  Witches'  prediction: 

Macbeth  shall  never  vanquished  be,  until 
Great  Birnam  wood  to  high  Dunsinane  hill 
Shall  come  against  him. 

And  then  the  unknowing  fulfilment,  and  the  opening 
sentence  which  applies  today: 

Mai.  Cousins,  I  hope  the  days  are  near  at  hand  that 
chambers  will  be  safe. 

Ment.     We  doubt  it  nothing. 

Siw.     What  wood  is  this  before  us? 

Ment.     The  wood  of  Birnam. 

Mai.     Let  every  soldier  hew  him  down  a  bough, 

And  bear't  before  him,  thereby  shall  we  shadow 

The  numbers  of  our  host,  and  make  disopvenj 

Err  in  report  of  us." 

This  camouflage  was  successful  in  Scotland  just  nine- 
hundred-seventeen  years  before  Lieut.  Shaw  taught  the 
system  to  the  91st  Division,  and  conducted  a  demonstration 


384  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

of  its  workings  upon  the  No  Man's  Land  of  the  182nd  In- 
fantry. The  Commandant,  Staff,  and  most  of  the  officers 
at  camp  attended.  The  camouflage  department  should  be 
especially  effective  at  this  cantonment  where  are  scores 
of  men  who  have  been  expert  workers  along  this  very 
line  for  the  leading  moving  picture  studios  and  settlements, 
as  well  as  scene  painters  and  ranch  men. 

Speaking  of  demonstrations,  "Over  the  Top"  conducted 
by  the  foreign  officers  when  Gen.  Helmick  inspected  Camp 
Lewis  the  middle  of  February,  showed  their  training  along 
all  lines.  Great  shells  shrieked  over  a  battleground  de- 
signed and  dug  just  as  it  would  be  overseas.  Then  the 
machine  guns,  and  the  soldiers  rushed  forward,  dropping 
into  shell  holes,  crawling,  firing,  throwing  hand  grenades, 
and  took  the  Boche  trenches.  Capt.  J.  C.  Champion,  256th 
Infantry,  head  of  the  French  as  Capt.  Mawdsley  of  the 
English  detail,  instructor  in  bombs  and  grenades,  assisted 
by  Sergt.  Bonnett,  was  in  charge  of  the  advance,  and  after 
the  battle,  while  still  on  the  ground,  pointed  out  the  mis- 
takes made,  the  principal  one  being  imprudence  in  expos- 
ing themselves  to  fire. 

"Remember,  your  being  killed  or  wounded  is  one  man 
less  on  your  Country's  side  with  which  to  win  the 
fight."  Men  can  be  taught  caution  with  good  grace 
from  officers  like  Champion,  of  bravery  equal  to  his 
name.  He  wears  the  War  Cross,  or  rather  he  does  not, 
not  even  the  ribbon  which  indicates  it,  except  on  High 
Days  and  Holidays,  and  carries  his  modesty  to  the  point 
of  boredom.  All  the  French  detail  have  been  decorated 
which,  in  the  French  army,  means  courage  indeed,  when 
it  distinguishes  them  among  comrades  all  brave.  That 
is  more  than  can  be  said  of  the  German  Iron  Cross,  often 
bestowed  for  some  especially  dastardly  deed. 

One  of  these  French  with  us  was  of  a  volunteer  party 
of  twelve  who  penetrated  the  enemy's  line  at  night,  cutting 
wires  to  obtain  needed  information.  All  but  he  were  killed. 
A  second  volunteer  party  met  the  same  fate,  he  only  return- 
ing. Upon  his  urging  permission  to  make  a  third  attempt, 
he  was  forbidden.  This  was  not  learned  from  him,  but 


CAMP    LEWIS 


385 


CAPT.    CHAMPION 

upon  someone's  referring  to  it  he  shrugged  his  shoulders 
in  true  French  style  and  remarked,  "I  should  not  have  had 
the  Cross,  but  they  who  died."  He  was  wrong.  They 
won  the  crown,  for  him  only  the  Cross. 

Capt.  Champion,  like  all  the  French  detail,  speaks 
perfect  English.  They  are  University  men,  some  from 
English  U's  as  well  as  French.  The  Captain  spoke  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Belgian  Babies  fund  at  a  local  hotel,  and 
Sergt.  Mirat  illustrated  the  talk  with  cartoons  which  were 
auctioned  for  the  cause.  Mirat  came  to  Camp  Lewis  the 
first  week  in  November  and  is  probably  the  best  known 
of  the  detail  for  the  reason  that  he  has  given  both  enter- 
taining and  instructive  talks  to  all  Companies,  sometimes 

§  26 


386  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

illustrating  them  with  wonderful  lantern  slides,  some- 
times with  his  own  sketches.  He  has  also  published  two 
small  volumes  of  poems  since  war  began.  All  the  French 
officers  fought  in  the  earlier  fierce  battles,  like  Mirat,  the 
Somme,  the  Marne,  Verdun.  Another  French  sergeant, 
Bonnell,  instructor  in  bombing,  is  a  good  speaker  who 
fought  for  three  years  before  being  detailed  to  Camp 
Lewis. 


CAMP    LEWIS  387 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

ATHLETICS — COOK,      DIRECTOR — WORLD-CHAMPION      HURDLER 

SIMPSON    WORLD-CHAMPION     WRESTLER     IRELAND    — 

WORLD-CHAMPION  BOXER  RITCHIE — BASEBALL  AND  CAPTS. 
WATTELET  AND  SCOTT — SCORES  OF  BASEBALL  PROFESSION- 
ALS  FOOTBALL  AND  LIEUTS.  STANTON  AND  MALLUM — 

SOCCER  AND  LIEUT.  QUIMBY — BASKETBALL — SWIMMING, 
CHAMPION  CUNNHA  AND  AWAI — ARENA  AND  MEET — 
BUTTE  BUILDING  AND  A.  J.  DAVIS. 

Never  in  the  world's  history  has  athletics  played  so 
great  a  part  in  war  as  today.  Formerly,  darkness  brought 
rest  and  sleep  for  both  sides;  now  men  fight  and  work 
night  and  day,  often  for  more  than  forty-eight  hours  at 
a  stretch.  Every  muscle  must  be  tough,  every  ounce  of 
flesh  hard.  Knowledge  of  perfect  physical  condition  breeds 
confidence,  which  is  the  very  heart  of  valor  in  action,  and 
endurance,  which  is  the  test  of  it.  A  third  phase  of  its 
power  is  the  assistance  it  gives  in  recovery  from  wounds. 
All  that,  and  more,  at  the  Front:  in  camp,  athletics  is  the 
prime  mixer,  the  quickest  method  of  developing  Company 
spirit,  bringing  officers  and  men  together  by  means  in  no 
way  derogatory  to  discipline,  but 'good  in  its  effects  in  a 
democratic  army  like  ours.  This  was  very  soon  demon- 
strated at  Camp  Lewis  and  answered  the  objectors,  of 
which  athletics,  like  all  special  activities,  enjoyed  its  share. 

The  Ninety-First  could  not  have  been  better  satisfied 
if  its  hundreds  of  professional  and  amateur  athletics  stars 
had  been  allowed  their  pick  for  Division  Director,  and 
been  able  to  agree  upon  the  man,  instead  of  having  Capt. 
Trevanion  G.  Cook  appointed  to  that  position  by  the  War 
Department,  through  the  Fosdick  War  Activities  Com- 


CAMP    LEWIS  389 

mittee.  Some  man  may  have  felt  the  Division  could  have 
fared  better,  but  he  has  not  yet  been  heard  from,  so  does 
not  figure  in  the  First's  of  this  book. 

Capt.  Cook  has  had  twenty-seven  years'  experience  as 
Director  of  Athletics,  ten  of  them  being  in  the  New  York 
State  School  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  New  York  City. 
He  came  West,  and  was  director  in  Spokane  for  eight 
years,  spent  two  at  Wallace,  Idaho,  and  the  last  year  before 
coming  to  Camp  Lewis  at  Butte,  so  that  he  knows  this 
Northwest  and  its  men,  and  many  know  him.  Of  them, 
he  is  a  type;  a  sportsman,  an  athlete,  a  gentleman,  just 
the  one  to  give  the  right  impress  to  the  important  board 
he  heads.  He  has  not  only  supervised  the  entire  Division 
athletics,  but  has  arranged  and  directed  several  Meets 
which  have  been  remarkable  not  only  in  their  numbers  of 
entries  and  feats,  but  in  demonstrating  the  value  to  mili- 
tary acquirements  of  athletics  co-ordination.  Capt.  Cook 
had  expected  to  accompany  the  91st  Division  to  France, 
but  he  had  done  his  work  too  well  to  be  needed  there,  as 
he  is  for  succeeding  Divisions  at  Camp  Lewis,  so  he 
remains. 

Edgar  H.  Kienholz,  Assistant  Camp  Athletics  Director, 
is  another  find,  a  graduate  of  the  State  College  at  Pullman, 
Washington,  where  he  took  a  Bachelor's  Degree  in  Agri- 
culture, 1913,  a  Master's,  in  1915.  While  awaiting  the 
B.  A.  and  the  M.  A.,  however,  he  affixed  the  remainder 
of  the  alphabet,  won  at  football,  basketball,  baseball  and 
track,  at  his  college.  It  is  said  he  has  more  letters  than 
any  other  college  man.  Wonder  how  he  found  time  to 
learn  anything  about  agriculture,  let  alone  Master  it? 
The  year  after  his  graduation,  he  directed  and  coached 
athletics  at  Yakima  High  School.  Then  he  became  in- 
structor of  Agriculture,  Elementary  Science  Department, 
also  assistant  Coach,  in  the  state  College  of  Washington, 
remaining  two  years.  During  1916-7,  he  was  Director 
and  Coach  at  Polytechnic  High  School,  Long  Beach, 
California. 

Then  there  is  Lieut.  Robert  Simpson,  who  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  University  of  Missouri  last  Fall,  took  a  com- 


390  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

mission  at  Fort  Sheridan,  and  at  Camp  Lewis  is  Coach  of 
Track  Athletics.  These  facts  are  ordinary,  but  what  is 
extra-ordinary  is  that  Simpson  was  member  of  a  team 
sent  to  the  Olympic  Games,  and  that  he  holds  the  World's 
Record  for  both  High  and  Low  Hurdles,  the  former  being 
fourteen  and  three-fifths  seconds,  120  yard,  and  the  latter 
in  220  yards.  Is  that  good  enough  for  you,  Ninety-First? 
Lieut.  Simpson  is  attached  to  the  44th  Infantry. 

Yes,  for  a  beginning  that  will  do,  but  this  First  Divis- 
ion must  have  only  First's.  Lloyd  Erwin  Ireland  was  born 
in  Walla  Walla,  Washington,  and  attended  Columbia  Col- 
lege at  Milton,  Oregon.  Like  Hercules,  he  must  have  begun 
wrestling  in  the  cradle,  for  he  was  credited  with  it  in 
1905,  and  won  the  World's  Featherweight  Championship 
in  1913.  Two  years  afterward  he  was  physical  director 
of  Olympia's  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  He 
was  appointed  Wrestling  Instructor  at  Camp  Lewis  in 
November,  1918. 

Ireland  should  rise  to  fame  in  the  army,  as  he  has 
served  at  sea  on  a  revenue  cutter  and  on  land  as  a 
National  Guardsman,  while  his  second  cousin,  Maj.  Gen. 
Leonard  Wood  holds  rank  a  goal's  distance  from  the  little 
corporal — not  meaning  Napoleon  though  he,  too  was  of 
Artillery.  Ireland  is  regimental  postmaster  of  the  346th 
Field  Artillery.  He  has  been  "Kid  Irish"  as  long  as  he 
cares  to  be,  and  he  is  twenty-five,  anyway.  If  he  does 
weigh  less  than  125  pounds,  he  is  as  strong  as  the  Her- 
cules he  emulated,  for  he  can  lift  ten  times  his  own  weight. 
Several  times  at  camp  smokers  he  has  lifted  five  men, 
easily,  and  once  he  was  foolish  enough  to  carry  the  same 
number  of  men  a  city  block,  but  that  was  several  years  ago. 

In  all,  Ireland  entered  448  wrestling  bouts,  engaging 
men  from  115  to  248  pounds  in  weight,  and  lost  but  nine- 
teen contests.  He  won  the  championship  of  the  world  in 
1913  from  Grimms,  who  had  worn  only  a  fortnight  the 
belt  which  he  had  taken  from  Keegan,  who  had  held  it 
for  years.  And  Corporal  Ireland  is  not  only  a  world's 
champion  wrestler  and  a  strong  man,  but  an  expert  jui- 
jitsu-ist,  if  that  is  what  it  is  called.  No  wonder  the 


CAMP    LEWIS  391 

wrestlers  of  Camp  Lewis  are  legion  and  notable,  with  such 
an  instructor. 

"Kid  Irish"  came  before  about  3000  soldiers  that 
packed  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Auditorium  and  defended  his  title 
against  the  challenge  of  Sergeant  Guy  "Alaska"  Stegner, 
at  a  smoker  given  by  the  316th  Engineers  and  the  346th 
Field  Artillery;  and  having  won  the  match,  he  dropped 
name  and  title  upon  the  mat,  and  left  the  hall  Corporal 
Ireland,  U.  S.  N.  A.  who  is  training  thousands  of  men 
instead  of  one,  and  the  thousands-and-one  are  putting 
their  strength  into  a  bout  worth  while. 

In  this  group  we  will  find  a  third  World  Champion, 
"Willie  Ritchie,"  or,  as  his  card  in  the  great  filing  case 
of  the  Depot  Brigade  has  it,  Gerhardt  Steffens,  San  Fran- 
cisco, first  of  the  new  California  draft  to  appear  at  the 
receiving  station.  Soon  after  war  was  declared,  he  had 
enlisted  in  the  Signal  Corps  Reserve  from  which  he  was 
discharged  to  accept  the  position  of  Boxing  Instructor  at 
Camp  Lewis,  where,  daily,  he  teaches  classes  composed  of 
472  assistant  boxing  instructors,  who  in  turn  carry  down 
the  work  to  men  in  groups  of  from  forty  to  sixty,  the 
result  being  that  hundreds  of  Camp  Lewis  boxers  are  al- 
ready a  credit  to  any  ring,  and  that  the  whole  Division 
is  rapidly  gaining  great  proficiency.  Yes,  and  size,  men 
are  actually  growing  like  boys! 

Ritchie  grows  talkative  when  he  insists  that  no  other 
form  of  sport,  not  only,  but  of  drill,  can  so  strengthen 
men  for  war,  and  teach  them  what  to  do  with  that  strength. 
Boxing,  he  says,  employs  the  very  muscles  used  in  bayonet- 
ing and  teaches  a  man  to  take  blows  as  well  as  to  give 
them,  so  that  when  you  put  a  gun  and  bayonet  into  his 
hands  he  feels  the  extra  confidence  of  a  weapon  harder 
than  his  fists.  It  is  for  these  reasons  that  the  government 
has  made  attendance  compulsory  at  instruction  in  boxing 
both  for  soldiers  and  sailors.  For,  as  Ritchie  says,  it  is 
not  the  Captain  that  will  bring  a  man  safely  out  of  a 
battle,  if  he  comes  back,  but  his  own  ability  to  fight,  with 
every  inch  of  muscle  and  atom  of  sense,  and  to  keep  his 
eye  on  his  adversary. 


392 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CAMP    LEWIS  393 

Ritchie  will  not  talk  of  himself,  he  is  not  in  the  least 
like  most  professionals  in  that,  though,  to  be  sure  I  never 
before  talked  to  one  noted  in  his  line.  He  has  been  ten 
years  before  his  public  and  was  Lightweight  Champion 
of  the  world.  He  is  too  heavy  for  that  class  now,  but  he 
has  lost  none  of  his  strength  to  the  usual  conqueror  of 
fighters,  for  he  has  never  drunk  a  drop,  does  not  even 
smoke,  is  a  good  business  man,  property  owner,  and  home- 
lover,  with  "one  strong  appetite — for  ice  cream,"  laughs 
one  of  his  admirers.  As  a  man  he  is  much  liked,  and  the 
Division  was  greatly  disappointed  to  learn  that,  because 
his  hearing  is  slightly  defective,  he  will  not  go  with  them 
to  France.  However,  as  in  Capt.  Cook's  case,  what  the 
Ninety-First  loses,  Camp  Lewis  gains,  and  his  many 
trophies  remain  here.  One,  an  immense  Loving  Cup,  was 
presented  last  May  when  he  boxed  for  a  benefit,  for  Ritchie 
will  use  his  skill  for  nothing  but  the  army  and  the  Red 
Cross  while  war  lasts.  This  great  Loving  Cup  is  like  the 
Widow's  Cruse,  always  empty,  but  always  able  to  pour 
forth — money,  not  oil. 

This  connection  between  boxing  and  bayoneting  makes 
it  invaluable,  as  is  shown  in  moving  pictures  prepared  by 
the  Commission  on  Training  Camp  Activities  and  distri- 
buted to  camps.  One  of  the  leaders  is,  "Bayoneting  is 
boxing  with  a  gun  in  your  hands."  Ritchie  also  received  a 
gift  of  four  films  from  Miles'  Brothers  of  San  Francisco, 
showing  celebrated  bouts,  instructive  to  the  men.  Ritchie 
himself  took  instruction  in  bayoneting,  of  Lieutenants 
Hurlburt  and  Noble. 

The  Boxing  Tournament  held  the  first  week  in  June 
might  be  described  as  the  Graduating  Exercises  of  Super- 
intendent Ritchie's  Camp  Lewis  School.  It  was  held  in 
the  sports  arena,  with  over  150  entries,  men  who  qualified 
at  the  elimination  bouts  held  for  several  days  previously. 
For  six  evenings  the  arena  was  crowded,  and  it  seats 
20,000.  It  was  said  to  be  the  superior  of  anything  ever 
before  staged,  and,  the  men  think,  can  never  be  excelled. 
Medals  were  awarded  individuals,  and  handsome  silver 
regimental  trophies  presented  the  last  night,  by  Capt. 


394  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Worsham,  whose  open-air  voice  rivals  that  of  Gen.  Fun- 
ston's  father  who  was  seldom  called  anything  but  Fog- 
horn Funston.  Capt.  Worsham  announced  these  events, 
and  the  Remount's,  later. 

This  Divisional  Ring  Tournament  reflected  great  credit 
upon  Capt.  Cook  and  Ritchie.  Washington  men  in  the 
361st  Infantry  were  the  stars  of  the  firmament.  I  am 
warned  that  this  book  will  not  be  worth  the  paper  if 
the  winners'  names  are  not  published,  so  here  they  are : 

CLASS  A,  PROFESSIONALS 

G.  W.  Thompson  San  Diego,  Cal.,  24th  company,  166th  depot 
brigade. 

"Pickles"  Martin,  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  Battery  A,  347th  F.  A. 
Danny  O'Brien,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  Company  E,  361st  infantry. 
Joe  "Butch"  Simonich,  Butte,  Mont.,  Company  A,  361st  infantry. 
Dick  Wells,  Seymour,  Ind.,  Company  A,  361st  infantry. 
Leo  Cross,  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  Company  F,  364th  Infantry. 
Bob  Sommerville  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  Company  F,  364th  infantry. 

CLASS  B,  AMATEURS 

Charles  Sepulveda,  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  Company  A,  364th  infantry. 
M.   M.  Robertson,   Salmas,  Cal.,  Company  G,  361st  infantry. 
Charles  Feretti,  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  Company  G,  316th  ammuni- 
tion train. 

George    Davis,    Hoquiam,    Wash.,    363d   ambulance    company. 
William  Thompson,  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  Company  L,  363d  infantry. 
H.  L.   Peterson  Fairview,  Utah,  Company  A,  361st  infantry. 
Oscar  "Kid"   Koch,   Mexico,   Company   C,  316th   engineer  trains. 

Baseball  might  be  called  the  characteristic  American 
sport.  Perhaps  it  is  because  I  know  more  about  it  than 
any  other,  having  lived  in  Detroit  when  the  great  games 
between  its  teams  and  Chicago's  were  crises  in  our  affairs, 
but  really  it  seems  that  more  kinds  of  military  training 
can  be  gained  by  baseball  than  by  any  other.  However, 
what  it  is  starred  for,  is  training  in  throwing  hand  gren- 
ades, in  which  four  motions  are  requisite,  one  showing 
in  this  cut.  Don't  know  what  it  is,  officially,  but  it  would 
seem  to  be  "Get  out  of  your  own  way."  A  hand  grenade 
is  about  five  inches  long  and  explodes  in  that  many  seconds 
after  it  is  set,  so  you  don't  want  to  begin  thinking  "the 
thoughts  of  youth  which  are  long,  long  thoughts"  when  it 
is  ready  for  action.  Our  "lemons"  are  an  improvement 
on  the  Allies'  since  they  will  not  explode  until  a  clip  is 
pressed  down,  so  are  safely  carried.  These  "lemons,"  by 
the  way,  are  so  shaped  and  of  ribbed  steel. 


CAMP    LEWIS 


395 


The  Divisional  Coach  is  a  professional  player,  owner 
and  manager  of  the  Victoria  Northwest  Baseball  Team, 
Capt.  L.  A.  Wattelet  of  the  364th  Infantry.  He  and  Capt. 
Cook  and  Capt.  Scott  are  the  commission  for  Camp  Lewis 
League  games  of  twenty  teams  divided  into  National  and 
American,  which  play  upon  fourteen  out  of  the  forty 
cantonment  diamonds. 

I  notice  that  you  betrayed  no  excitement  over  mention 
of  Capt.  Scott.  It's  a  common  name,  how  were  you  to 
guess  it  was  "Death  Valley  Jim"  Scott,  pitcher  for  eight 


THROWING    HAND    GRENADES  -. 

years  for  the  Champion  Chicago  White  Sox!  Think  of 
messing  with  him,  having  him  remark  to  you,  personally, 
that  it  was  muddy,  or  that  Camp  Lewis  diamonds  are  the 
stones. 

They  say  he  was  as  excited  over  the  opening  of 
these  cantonment  games  as  he  ever  was  over  the  first  day 
of  the  Big  League.  "Why  shouldn't  I  be,"  he  queries, 
"We're  in  the  biggest  game  of  our  lives  right  now,  and 
when  we  strike  France  we  shall  feel  as  if  we  had  never 
played  in  anything  but  bush  team  before."  Captain  Scott's 
two-hundred  dollars  a  month,  less  board  and  uniform, 
would  have  been  too  small  for  Pitcher  Scott  to  see,  but 
what  is  money  anyway  when  you  can  fight  and,  on  the 
side,  play  ball  and  manage  an  Officers  Training  Camp 
team  which,  undefeated,  is  out  for  more  scalps? 


396  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

There  are  scores  of  lesser  lights:  Guisto,  first  base 
with  Cleveland  Americans,  Myers  same  in  Boston  Nationals 
Kingman,  pitcher,  and  Mullen,  infielder  New  York  Ameri- 
cans, Mails,  Brooklyn,  and  Smutz  and  Oldham,  pitcher  for 
the  Detroit  Tigers,  playing  for  thirty  dollars  a  month, 
and  trying  to  out-do  one  another? 

Lieut.  J.  E.  Widmann,  346th  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  is 
known  all  over  the  Southwest  as  player  and  manager.  He 
was  in  the  Philippines  for  three  years  when  Gen.  Pershing 
was  Captain  there.  Widmann  started  in  the  Islands 
as  a  private,  becoming  post  commissary-sergeant.  After 
the  Spanish  American  war  he  played  baseball  everywhere, 
when  this  began,  he  took  a  commission  at  the  Presidio  and 
then  went  to  the  Fort  Sill  musketry  school.  Now  he 
divides  his  attention  between  machine  guns  and  baseball. 

From  the  baseball  teams  of  almost  every  company  in 
camp  were  picked,  after  trial  games,  the  Divisional  Na- 
tionals and  Americans  which  play  in  the  largest  Field 
upon  all  the  cantonments.  About  ten  first-class  pitchers 
contested  for  the  honor  of  playing.  These  opposing  nines 
play  every  Wednesday,  beginning  the  middle  of  May.  The 
qualifying  teams  were,  Americans  361st  and  364th  In- 
fantry, 346th  F.  A.,  316th  Engineers,  316th  Supply  Tr., 
Remount,  Military  Police,  44th  Infantry,  Y.  Q.  M.  C., 
Division  Headquarters;  and  Nationals:  Infantry,  362nd, 
363rd;  347th  and  348th  F.  A.,  Machine  Gun  Bn.,  316th 
Am.  Tr.,  316th  San  Tr.,  316th  Sig.  Corps,  Depot  Brigade 
and  Ordnance  Department. 


According  to  a  published  list  here  are  more  of  the  Division  play- 
ers: Jo  Connolly,  363rd  Infantry,  former  Tacoma  Tiger,  Mclvor, 
Reardon,  363rd  C.;  La  Marra  and  Holloway,  D.  B.  utility;  316th  eng., 
p.,  Northwestern;  Mark  Higby,  362nd  ambulance  Co.,  p.,  formerly 
of  the  Coast  league;  Charles  Schmutz,  362nd  Amb.  Co.,  p.,  majors 
Northwestern;  Howard  Mundorff,  M.  P.,  outfielder,  Coast  league; 
Hap  Myers,  362d  field  sig.  bn.,  Ib,  Boston  Braves;  Harrington,  O. 
T.  C.,  c.,  Olympic  club,  San  Francisco;  Sergt.  Ten  Million,  361st 
inf.  outfielder,  Seattle  club;  M.  H.  Shriver,  O.  T.  C.,  infielder,  U. 
of  C.;  ex  of  Cincinnati  and  Richmond  clubs;  Roy  Sharp,  O.  T.  C. 
infielder,  U.  of  C.;  "Midget"  McKay,  O.  T.  C.,  infielder,  U.  of  N.  D.; 
Howell  Romney,  O.  T.  C.,  outfielder;  Carl  King,  M.  P.,  c.;  Tom 
Hickey,  363d  inf.,  p.;  Ed.  Klein,  363d  p.;  Hal  Chase,  347th  F.  A.,  p.; 
Ted  Allen,  347  F.  A.,  p. 


CAMP    LEWIS 


397 


398  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

It  is  said  that  cricket,  tennis  and  golf  in  England  are, 
at  least  for  the  war,  totally  neglected,  since  they  need 
grounds,  and  everybody  is  wild  over  American  baseball 
for  which  2000  teams  are  to  be  equipped  from  New  York. 

Probably  the  least  exercised  portion  of  the  ordinary 
man's  body  is  his  ankles,  even  women,  by  reason  of  "turn- 
ing" their  ankles  over  their  silly  high  heels,  exert  them 
more.  Football,  is  therefore  of  the  greatest  importance 
in  making  soldiers  sure-footed,  a  life-saving  trait  on  the 
shell-torn  battlefields  of  France.  When  the  mother  of 
Achilles  dipped  her  boy  in  the  dread  Styx,  she  held  him 
by  the  heel,  you  remember,  so  that  his  foot  only  was 
vulnerable.  Columbia  is  striving  to  safeguard  her  boys 
where  Thetis  failed,  by  football.  If  Thetis  had  not  been 
a  sea-goddess,  she  would  have  thought  of  that,  for  football 
was  played  in  Homer's  time.  The  Greeks  played  a  game 
very  similar  to  Rugby,  and  when  Augustus  succeeded 
Julius  Caesar,  he  appointed  a  committee  to  revise  football 
rules. 

As  Sir  Walter  Scott  said: 

Then  strip,  lads,  and  to  it,  tho  sharp  be  the  weather, 
And  if  perchance  you  should  happen  to  fall, 
There  are  worse  things  in  life  than  a  tumble  on  heather, 
And  life  is  itself  but  a  game  of  foot  ball. 

Eskimos  are  experts  at  it,  using  a  ball  of  seal  leather 
stuffed  with  reindeer  hair,  light  and  strong.  They  are 
wonderful  kickers,  those  Eskimos,  too. 

Foot  ball's  representative  and  coach  upon  the  Athletics 
Divisional  Council  is  Lieut.  W.  L.  Stanton  of  the  316th 
Supply  Train,  who  was  Football  Coach  at  Occidental  Col- 
lege, California.  Lieut.  Mallum,  treasurer  of  Camp  Lewis 
Athletic  Organization,  has  been  prominent  in  the  game 
since  the  big  Stadium  game.  But  our  American  Football, 
or  its  English  cousin,  Rugby,  is  neither  so  valuable  to  sol- 
diers as  its  Scotch  cousin  Soccer,  which,  with  the  twist 
which  the  Scotch  tongue  gives  to  words,  straightened, 
means  association  football,  because  rules  so  formulated, 
forbid  the  holding  or  carrying  of  the  ball,  only  foot  work 


CAMP    LEWIS 


399 


400  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

being  allowable  in  Soccer.  For  this  reason  it  is  especially 
favored  by  Brig.  Gen.  Foltz.  It  is  the  principal  sport  of  the 
French  army.  Lieut.  Hubin  of  the  Belgian  army  has 
issued  a  challenge  to  ours  for  Soccer  games,  and,  judging 
from  the  record  of  the  Ninety-First's  squad,  Americans 
are  ready. 

And  if  Soccer  is  not  a  Yankee  game,  it  is 
pronounced  as  if  it  were.  Coached  by  Lieut.  Quimby  of 
the  361st  Infantry — he  wearing  the  fur  collar — these  boys 
won  the  Championship  of  the  Northwest.  The  Lieutenant 
is  a  Stanford  University  man,  Division  Soccer  Coach,  and 
his  poern  upon  The  Platform  Crew  proves  him  as  virile 
a  writer  as  sportsman. 

A  ball  is  the  oldest  toy  in  the  world.  Doubtless  Adam 
and  Eve  played  it  with  an  apple,  Cain  and  Abel  kicked  a 
melon  for  football,  or  struck  an  orange  with  the  palm  of 
their  hand  for  a  tennis  racket.  In  fact  as  late  as  King 
Arthur,  tennis  was  called  paume  because  so  struck.  In 
France,  from  the  king  down,  while  Columbus  was  busy 
proving  the  world  a  ball  hurled  by  Jupiter,  everybody 
played  tennis,  with  a  glove  as  buffer.  In  fact,  Romulus 
and  Remus,  Pyramis  and  Thisbe,  David  and  Johnathan, 
— all  the  rest  of  them,  played  ball. 

Bayoneting,  Boxing,  Baseball,  Basketball,  all  are  Busy 
B's,  especially  Basketball,  whose  Division  Team,  from  the 
middle  of  February  till  the  end  of  March,  1918,  was  de- 
feated but  once,  and  brought  back  to  the  Ninety-First  an- 
other Championship  of  the  Northwest.  It  hardly  seems  fair 
to  crow,  however,  when  you  reflect  that  Camp  Lewis  teams, 
in  any  sport,  are  the  pick  of  the  best  players  in  the  entire 
Northwest,  pitted  against  a  local  team,  however  good.  Take 
this  Basketball  squad:  Sergt.  Keinholz  of  the  Council, 
Lieut.  Craig  of  University  of  Wyoming,  Lieut.  Hjelte, 
University  of  California,  Sharp  of  same,  Staatz,  of  Wash- 
ington, Berndt,  Santa  Clara  College,  California,  Hayer, 
Wallace  High  School,  Van  Pelt  University  of  Utah,  Hal- 
verson  of  Ripon,  Lieut.  Rice  a  Montanan  and  Wilson, 
another  Californian.  All  these  had  been  stars  in  their 
college  galaxies. 


CAMP    LEWIS  401 

Just  before  the  Division  went  over,  tennis  courts  were 
laid  out  in  several  parts  of  the  cantonment  and  play  had 
begun — suppose  that  is  especially  valuable  for  arm-reach 
and  leaping. 

Swimming,  too,  began  to  take  its  important  place 
among  sports  which  are  so  useful  as  hardly  to  be  ranked 
among  sports.  Now,  a  government  order  makes  it 
obligatory  upon  all  soldiers  to  learn  to  swim.  As  usual, 
Camp  Lewis  was  to  the  fore  with  a  great  beautiful  lake, 
named  a-purpose,  American,  and  a  teacher,  George  Cunnha, 
who  couldn't  wear  all  his  medals  or  they  would  sink  him. 
He  is  another  World's  Champion,  Speed-swimmer,  and  has 
several  times  out-classed  Duke  Kahamamoku,  who  as  you 
might  suspect,  is  an  Hawaiian,  which  is  as  to  say,  swim- 
mer. I  don't  suppose  any  native  Hawaiian  was  ever 
drowned  since  the  sea  swept  his  front  yard  and  the  surf 
beat  at  his  door. 

Just  spell  the  heart  out  of  his  beloved  island  and  you 
will  have  the  very  name  of  another  great  swimmer  of  the 
Ninety-First,  Awai,  George  Awai,  graduate  of  a  Honolulu 
High  School  and  of  Kamehameha  Manual.  Since  his  coun- 
trymen speak  of  his  swimming,  he  should  so  be  noted, 
but  he  is  beside,  an  all-around  athlete — and  in  an  office  at 
Divisional  Headquarters.  Awai  sings,  and  plays  several 
instruments  beside  the  typewriter. 

Was  there  anything  or  anybody  left  out  of  your 
athletics,  Ninety-First?  To  be  certain  of  the  No-s,  a  co- 
ordinating committee  was  formed  in  February  to  organize 
so  that  there  should  be  no  overlapping  or  interfering,  yet 
all  should  be  covered.  Capt.  Cook  was  chairman,  Capt. 
Welty  came  over  from  Headquarters,  and  representatives 
of  the  Y.  M's  the  K.  C.'s  the  Jewish  Welfare,  all  attended. 

The  fine  Division  Athletics  Field,  one  of  the  largest  in 
the  country  and  brilliantly  lighted,  was  finished  for  Camp 
Lewis'  First  Division.  The  April  Military  Tournament 
there  was  beyond  anything  ever  before  attempted.  Capt. 
Cook  must  have  been  a  proud  man  as  he  saw  the  time  and 
manner  in  which  this  program,  a  Bulletin  from  Division 
Headquarters,  was  carried  out  without  a  failure.  The  re- 

§  27 


402  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

suits  have  been  detailed  elsewhere  in  relating  regimental 
honors,  but  you  men  who  took  part  before  the  thousands 
of  enthusiastic  onlookers,  including  Gen.  Greene  and  his 
Staff,  would  like  it  reprinted,  would  you  not? 

1.  Hand  grenade — 

(a)  Distance,  three  trails,  built-up  trench. 

(b)  Accuracy,  five  trails,  team  of  eight  men. 

2.  Rescue   race,   two-men   team,   limit   three   teams   to   a   unit — 
Rescue  men  to  run   50   yards  to  wounded   men,  lift  them  on  their 
shoulders  without  any  assistance  by  the   wounded  men,  and  carry 
them  back  to  the  start;   wounded  men  to  weigh   150  pounds  each. 

3.  Bayonet  combat — Equipment:      Wooden  rifle,  mask,  plastron 
and  glove;  team  of  10  men  from  each  regiment;  rules  of  the  divisional 
infantry  school  of  arms  to  govern  combat. 

4.  Wall  scaling — 50  yards,  25  yards  to  the  wall,  over  the  wall, 
and  25  yards  to  the  finish;  the  wall  to  be  10  feet  high  and  12  inches 
wide;  squads  must  be  formed  and  reported  at  the  finish;  hats  must 
be  worn  throughout. 

5.  Relay   litter    race,    200    yards — Teams    of    eight   men;    eight 
teams;  50  yards. 

6.  Competitive   squad   drill — Under   the   general    rules   for   such 
events. 

7.  Running   trench   jump— Carrying   rifles   and   jumping   a   six- 
foot  trench. 

8.  Bugle  Competition — The  regulation  bugle  to  be  used. 

9.  100  yards  squad  relay  race,  teams  of  eight  men  each — each 
man  running  220  yards,  field  shoes. 

Some  sports  cannot  be  pursued  to  advantage  in  Winter, 
though  then  recruits  need  them  most,  so  that  the  gift  of 
Andrew  J.  Davis  is  one  that  none  but  themselves  can 
fully  appreciate.  The  size  of  the  building,  largest  of  its 
sort  in  the  world,  its  cost  in  money,  its  equipments,  are 
apparent  to  everybody;  but  the  understanding,  the  know- 
ledge of  just  how  best  to  accomplish  good  to  so  many, 
many  thousands  of  our  boys,  were  born  in  the  heart  of  the 
man,  not  his  pocket.  He  turned  its  design  over  to  the 
supervision  of  one  who  would  know  just  what  was  needed 
and  wanted,  Capt.  Trevanion  Cook,  whose  experience  is 
one  of  the  "built-in"  features.  Then  Mr.  Davis  asked 
Capt.  Cook  to  make  out  a  list  of  every  sort  of  equipment 
which  could  complete  a  perfect  sports  center  and  submit 
it  to  a  former  Butte  man,  Sergt.-Maj.  Harold  Crary,  of  the 
181st  Brigade,  who  was  empowered  to  draw  a  check.  It 
is  not  every  day  that  an  enthusiast  like  the  Division 


CAMP   LEWIS  403 

Athletics  Director  has  an  opportunity  to  gratify  his  know- 
ledge of  the  subject,  so  the  pleasure  he  felt  and  Mr.  Davis 
felt,  is  only  to  be  exceeded  by  that  the  men  felt  when  they 
took  possession  of  "Butte  Building" — for  Mr.  Davis 
absolutely  refused  to  have  his  name  in  any  way  connected 
with  his  gift. 

"Who  builds  a  church  to  God  and  not  to  fame, 
Will  never  mark  the  marble  with  his  name." 

He  had  erected  that  huge  Recreation  Hall  to  the  Men 
of  the  Cantonment,  not  to  A.  J.  Davis,  and  he  would  not 
even  be  present  at  a  formal  acceptance  of  the  structure. 
He  looked  it  over  one  day  with  Capt.  Cook,  was  "delighted 
with  all  the  Captain  had  done  for  it,"  then  slipped  back 
to  Montana,  where  he  has  lived  since  pioneer  times,  leav- 
ing Butte  Building,  Montana  Avenue,  as  legacy  to  the 
Pioneer  Division  of  Camp  Lewis,  and  to  those  who  come 
after. 

In  the  glorious  record  of  Athletics  at  Camp  Lewis, 
thus  endeth  the  First  Chapter. 


404  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

HAIL  AND  FAREWELL 

Reveille  and  welcome!  No  truth  in  the  bugle's  com- 
plaint, "I  can't  get  'em  up  in  the  morning"  that  notable 
day  at  February's  end,  no  hugging  pillows  till  the  third 
minute  before  Assembly.  Every  man  Jack  in  certain 
Companies  of  the  362nd  and  the  363rd  Infantry  swung 
out  of  bed  at  the  "I"  before  the  "can't"  could  sound,  for, 
after  all  the  months  of  hard  training,  had  dawned  The 
Day.  They  rushed  to  chow  only  to  feel  that,  somehow,  the 
mess  hall  already  looked  unfamiliar.  Afterward,  they 
swept  their  narrow  slice  of  dormitory,  box  gone  from 
under  bed,  clothing  from  nails  in  the  wooden  partition,  their 
"junk"  from  the  shelf.  It  really  was  The  Day,  wasn't  it? 

They  looked  through  the  windows  they  had  vociferously 
cursed  when  first  they  came,  loudly  enquiring,  in  solo 
and  chorus,  why  the  government  had  gone  to  expense  for 
glass  when  regulations  required  all  windows  to  be  wide 
open  the  coldest  nights  through.  Now  they  wondered  how 
ever  they  had  slept  in  stuffy  rooms.  Why  windows  are 
made  to  look  through,  and  they  did  it  now,  off  to  the 
rugged  Top-sentry  of  the  camp,  Mount  Tacoma,  "some 
mountain,"  and,  at  the  other  end,  to  the  sparkling  water 
of  American  Lake,  blue  as  the  flag-field,  "bully  lake"; 
looked  out  upon  great  stretches  of  prairie  parade  grounds 
between,  whereon,  even  now,  poor  fellows  whose  own 
great  day  had  not  yet  dawned  were  drilling:  marching, 
while  they  would  be  luxuriously  rolling  along;  digging 
trenches,  throwing  harmless  grenades  at  targets,  charging 
swinging  dummies  with  bayonets,  while  They,  from 
trenches  far  muddier,  would  "hand  those  lemons  to  the 
Boches,  then  rush  over  the  top  and  jab  them  direct." 


CAMP   LEWIS  405 

They  gazed  pityingly  upon  the  drill  bodies  far  and  near 
on  the  great  plain,  then  back  into  the  long  bare  room 
which  would  have  witnessed  many  a  homesick  vigil  had 
not  that  same  drilling  rendered  bodies  too  weary  "to  stand 
for  any  such  nonsense." 

They  had  thought  to  leave  the  old  barn  without  a 
regret,  and  as  bare  as  they  found  it,  yet  some  felt  strongly, 
and  many  dimly,  that  they  were  not  leaving  it  empty, 
that  much  of  their  old  selves  remained  behind,  that  some- 
how They  were  not  the  same  men  who  first  entered  these 
barracks  months — or  was  it  years,  before?  Others  had 
noted  it,  so  now  did  They,  and,  with  unconscious  farewell 
to  their  outgrown  selves  in  the  outgrown  room,  They 
passed  slowly  to  the  street. 

No  sentiment  apparent  as  they  lounged  and  joked, 
awaiting  the  dapper  young  Lieutenant's  "Fall  in," — would 
it  never  come! 

"Fall  in."  Instantly  men  became  soldiers,  the  band 
struck  up  and  the  ranks  struck  out.  Behind  the  long 
stretches  of  barracks,  the  rough  and  muddy  street  was 
crossed  for  the  last  time,  California  street,  and  these  were 
California  boys.  Last  times  are  sort-o  sad,  but  this  was  the 
first  time  they  had  started  for  France.  A  huge  motor 
was  bringing  stones  as  basis  of  fine  paved  roads  for 
the  next  draft,  and  just  as  the  band  came  along,  dumped 
a  record  load  directly  before  them,  over  which  they 
marched  full  soldierly,  trifles  like  cobblestone  banks  no 
longer  causing  comment.  They  bore  no  arms,  only  blanket 
rolls  and  shining  dishes.  One  tapped  his  plate  and  re- 
marked, "Food  wins  the  war,  we're  bears  for  both." 

Gloomy,  sullen,  unwilling?  Not  a  word  of  it.  The  sun 
burst  into  a  broad  smile,  and  every  son,  to  the  number 
of  thousands,  beamed  likewise,  like  a  football  squad  and 
rooters  off  for  a  long-desired  game.  The  band  played  a 
"jazz"  and  a  tall,  sinewy  fellow  who  had  been  loading 
boxes  of  apricots,  prunes,  all  sorts  of  supplies,  and  who 
was  bareheaded  and  barearmed  in  the  wind,  began  to 
dance.  He  was  grace  itself  as  he  pirouetted  along  the 
line  of  waiting  men  and  extended  his  finger  tips  to  the 


406  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

smallest  soldier.  The  latter  advanced  mincingly,  present- 
ing a  clever  personation  of  a  dainty  debutante,  despite 
his  high-necked  khaki  with  blanket-roll  for  chiffon  scarf 
and  aluminum  dishes  dangling  for  a  chatelaine  at  his  belt. 
But  the  soldiers  are  too  much  accustomed  to  cleverness  of 
this  sort  to  heed.  You  know  the  moving  picture  plants 
of  Southern  California  all  but  moved  and  planted  Camp 
Lewis.  Many  a  pretty  man,  so  spoiled,  that  when  he  posed 
in  love  scenes  before  the  camera,  he  needed  no  second 
party,  turned  out  to  be  a  real  man,  or,  more  properly 
speaking,  a  reg'ler  human.  Yes,  it  was  as  good  as  a  play 
to  linger  'round  with  the  boys;  it  was  a  play:  a  human- 
action  motion  picture,  in  natural  colors,  with  its  "leaders" 
audible.  The  military  band  played  for  its  "augmented 
orchestra",  all  as  it  should  be,  big  and  beautiful,  when 
you  consider  the  price. 

The  bands'  olive  uniforms  grew  green  with  jealousy, 
"No,  not  with  this  bunch,  worse  luck.  Gee,  but  I  wish 
we  were.  Perhaps  tomorrow,  but  they  never  tell  us." 
One  of  the  snare  drummers,  relieving  his  feelings  by 
pestering,  persisted  in  playing  a  tattoo  on  the  sides  of  the 
drum  ahead.  The  soldiers  would  applaud  the  airs  in 
kind.  "Where  do  we  go  from  here?" 

"We  go  to  France;  you  for  the  barracks." 

There  was  nothing  approaching  rowdyism,  not  an 
oath,  not  a  jest  that  a  boy  wouldn't  have  his  mother  hear 
if  she'd  been  there,  which  she  wasn't,  nobody's  mother. 
Since  the  first  entrainement,  when  the  men's  relatives 
made  of  the  occasion  almost  a  naval  affair,  depressing 
the  soldiers  themselves  to  the  tear  line,  and  the  publicity 
of  the  farewell  affording  alien  enemies  an  opportunity  to 
blow  up  the  train,  the  government  refuses  all  information 
regarding  the  time,  the  place,  or  the  girl.  One  has  simply 
to  happen  along,  and  this  time  only  five  women  happened 
along. 

It  seems  hard,  but  the  fact  is  war  is  hard,  first, 
last,  and  all  the  time.  As  they  could  afford  time  and 
money,  home  dear  ones  had  come  far  to  visit  their  soldiers, 
and  men  near  home  had  lately  been  there.  Last  words 


CAMP   LEWIS  407 

are  better  unsaid.  So,  Dear  Ones,  I  have  taken  this  picture 
for  you. 

No — it  is  not  a  group  picture  in  which  you  cannot 
find  your  Boy;  see,  there  he  stands,  more  natural  than 
in  any  other  you  have  of  him,  for  he  did  not  suspect  I 
was  drawing  it.  His  "pleased  expression"  was  not  sheep- 
ishly attempted  at  anyone's  suggestion ;  it  came  from  with- 
in. No  need  for  the  band  to  propose,  "Pack  all  your 
troubles  in  your  old  kit  bag  and  smile,  smile,  smile."  They 
had,  to  a  man,  evidently  done  that  packing  at  barracks, 
for  only  smiles  were  in  evidence;  they  wore  them  every 
minute  of  the  long  wait,  and  they  wore  them  away,  I 
give  you  my  word. 

Some  had  tiny  flags  thrust  into  their  hat  cords,  and 
some  carried  larger  ones.  "Did  a  friend  give  you  that 
to  carry  on?" 

"No,  brought  it  from  California  when  I  came,  and  I 
mean  to  carry  it  straight  into  France  and  on  into  Ger- 
many"— 

"Good  for  you.    It's  a  good  flag  to  fight  for,  isn't  it?" 

"The  finest  ever,"  and  he  gave  it  a  toss — 

"And  the  most  beautiful,  why  even  a  German  acknow- 
ledged that  to  me  many  years  ago;  and  the  only  progres- 
sive flag.  Remember?  another  star  rises  in  its  sky  every 
once  in  a  while." 

"That's  why  I  followed  it  first;  it  leads"— I  liked  that, 
and  his  voice,  which  was — well,  different,  so  I  inquired 
of  this  young  Wise  Man  from  what  country  he  had  fol- 
lowed the  star? 

From  Italy — "Then  no  wonder  you  are  glad  to  go, 
for  you  will  fight  both  for  your  Fatherland  and  your 
Motherland." 

I  was  glad  that  I  said  that,  for  his  face  shone  and 
so  did  that  of  his  "pal,"  another  Italian  holding  a 
similar  flag,  who  conttributed  only  smiles  and  nods  to  the 
conversation.  There  are  many  Italians  among  our  troops 
from  sunny  California,  drawn  thither  by  promises 
whispered  by  the  olive  and  orange  groves,  then  bound  to 
the  soil  by  the  vineyards'  tendrils. 


408  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

And  Home  Folks,  because  you  were  not  there,  do  not 
think  Boy  left  with  no  one  to  see  him  off.  Strong  friend- 
ships form  in  the  army.  There  are  many  men  of  many  minds 
to  pick  and  choose  from.  Even  if  Son  is  queer,  there's 
a  queerer,  sure  to  be.  They  have  been  in  daily,  close  as- 
sociation, with  nothing  from  without  to  interfere.  Did 
not  people  you  knew  abroad  ship,  just  those  few  days, 
come  to  stay  in  your  heart?  So  there  was  calling  over, 
"Hello  Bill,  you  old  slacker,  why  don't  you  come  along?" 
this  to  a  khaki-clad,  rueful  six-foot-fiver. 

"Don't  you  let  him  tease  you,  sonny.  Just  wait  till 
you  grow  up,  you'll  be  no  slacker,"  yells  a  "runt"  to  the 
giant. 

New  excitement,  more  fun!  Drive  up  large  army 
wagons,  drawn,  each,  by  four  mules,  the  only  old-fashioned 
thing  in  this  brand-new  army  and  its  equipment,  those 
wagons  and  smiles,  the  only  thing  left  of  the  old  army 
life  among  the  regulars,  as  an  army  woman  reminiscently 
remarked,  and  added,  "I  just  love  an  army  mule."  These 
wagons  are  heaped  with  large,  round  blue  denim  draw- 
bags,  tagged  with  name  and  Company,  with  some  democratic 
near-leather  telescopes,  and  a  few  aristocratic  oxfords. 

Nothing  but  the  kit-bags  will  go  further  than  Camp 
Greene.  Your  big  boys  play  at  grab-bag  now  as  the  sol- 
dier tosses  them  from  one  side,  then  the  other,  the  crowd- 
ing men,  however,  keeping  a  respectful  distance  from  the 
mule  quartet,  to  be  watched  and  avoided  as  alien  enemies. 
No  one  loves  a  mule.  What's  that?  Oh  yes,  yes,  notably 
truthful;  just  an  idiosyncrasy. 

Entrain!  Till  that  order  some  had  feared  they  "really 
might  not  get  to  go,"  they  had  packed  and  hiked  before, 
only  to  be  returned  to  barracks.  Two  lines  of  men  ap- 
proached along  two  coaches,  coming  together  at  the  rear 
step  of  one,  the  forward  step  of  the  next  car.  Each  man 
tossed  up  his  bag  which  was  caught  and  handed  into  the 
coach.  The  soldier  then  clutched  the  irons  and  swung 
himself  easily  aboard,  turning  to  catch  the  baggage  of 
the  man  behind.  Tracks  were  high,  the  step  had  no  wait- 
ing porter  with  box.  In  no  other  small  matter  was  the 


CAMP  LEWIS  409 

newly  acquired  agility  and  strength  of  the  troops  more 
noticeable  than  in  the  speed  and  ease  with  which  they 
negotiated  this  mounting. 

They  seated  themselves  rapidly  in  order,  raised 
windows,  and  resumed  fun  and  farewells.  He  was  a  very 
tall  man  who,  a-tiptoe,  could  shake  hands  with  men  at  the 
windows,  but  there  were  many  such.  One  waving  hand 
wore  a  unique  silver  ring.  "A  leftover",  seeing  the  ring, 
rushed  to  him  and  touched  it  with  its  mate,  exclaiming, 
"Here's  to  you."  He  explained  that  most  gifts  in  Cali- 
fornia "had  run  to  fruits,  nuts  and  raisins,  but  Palo 
Alto  had  them  all  High-Treed."  A  handsome  design 
was  chosen  from  many,  and  heavy  silver  rings  made 
from  it,  to  be  presented  to  every  man  who  entered 
the  army  from  that  town,  then  or  thereafter.  A  party 
was  given  for  the  first  contingent,  and  the  rings  were 
wished  on  that  night.  The  Palo  Alto  man  showed  me  his 
ring,  a  large  seal  center  with  his  name,  regiment  and  the 
date  engraved  thereon.  This  rested  upon  the  wing  of  a 
silver  eagle  at  each  side,  beak  to  band.  Is  that  not  fine 
and  American. 

Something  came  into  my  throat  as  I  thought  of  a 
man's  catching  sight  of  a  like  ring,  in  France,  and 
fighting  the  better  that  both  right  hands  bore  daunt- 
less eagles,  striking  for  the  continued  freedom  of  the  far- 
away home,  that  the  ring  sealed  them  to  helpfulness  and 
generosity  in  memory  of  Home  Folks  back  in  open-hearted, 
open-handed  California. 

Flashed  vision  of  a  lifeless  hand  upon  the  ground  in  the 
blood-drenched  land  which  is  No  Man's,  and  an  eagle  signet 
ring  intermittently  lighted  by  a  star-shell's  glare.  A 
comrade  had  seen  it  and  staked  life  to  draw  the  ring 
from  the  stiffened  finger,  to  hide  it  away,  to  be  returned 
to  Palo  Alto,  his  last  will  and  testament,  bequeathing  its 
wearer's  life  and  death  to  freedom,  "whereunto  I  hereby 
set  my  hand  and  seal."  That  was  the  first  disheartening 
thought.  I  put  it  by,  and  lost  it  in  the  fun  and  bustle. 

And  now  the  long  black  snake  of  many  joints  began 
to  crawl,  its  head  vomiting  fire  and  smoke,  type  of  the 


410  THE   NINETY -FIRST 

black  subtlety  of  that  Chimera  which  is  crawling  across 
Europe,  and  which  shall  be  destroyed  from  within  and 
without. 

And  Dear  Ones,  though  doubtless  there  were  subsidiary 
reasons  for  their  very  apparent  joy  at  going,  one  thing 
is  sure,  that  your  boy,  Mrs.  Aristocrat,  your  boy,  Mrs. 
Plane,  yours  Mrs.  Rich,  Yours  Mrs.  Poore,  yours  Madame 
d'Esprit,  yours  Signora  Silvera,  aye  and  yours,  Frau 
Schmidt,  went  gladly,  and  as  Americans,  all,  never  forget 
that,  as  Americans. 

They  leaned  from  the  windows,  cheering,  waving  Old 
Glory,  which  proudly  waved  back  at  them,  and  if,  to  any 
other  came  my  thought  of  what,  beside  France,  they 
journeyed  toward,  it  was  lost  in  Glory  and  Honor,  and 
if,  also,  in  Immortality,  do  not  all,  you  and  I  safe  at  home, 
die  once?  What  better  way  than  that  way,  for  Country, 
for  Peace? 

And  as  the  long  train  passed,  a  woman,  a  mother, 
waved  her  kerchief  and  bowed  her  head  and  smiled  at 
every  separate  Boy,  yours  and  yours  and  yours,  and  every 
single  Boy  waved  back,  through  her,  his  Fare  Well,  and 
his  love  to  You,  and  You,  and  You. 


010t  f  aalnt 


DE   that   dwelleth   in   the 
secret    place    of    the 
most    High    shall    abide    un- 
der  the   shadow   of   the   Al- 
mighty. 

XWILL  say  of  the  Lord, 
He   is   my   refuge    and 
my    fortress,    my     God;     in 
Him  will  I  trust. 

[URELY  He  shall  deliv- 
er thee  from  the  snare 
of  the  fowler,  and  from  the 
noisome  pestilence. 

shall  cover  thee  with 
His  feathers,  and  un- 
der His  wings  shalt  thou 
trust;  His  truth  shall  be 
thy  shield  and  buckler. 

O  U  shalt  not  be 
afraid  for  the  terror 
by  night;  nor  for  the  arrow 
that  flieth  by  day; 

QOR    for    the    pestilence 
that   walketh    in    dark- 
ness;   nor    for    the    destruc- 
tion   that   wasteth    at   noon- 
day. 

H  THOUSAND   shall   fall 
at    thy    side,    and    ten 
thousand  at  thy  right  hand; 
but   it   shall   not   come   nigh 
thee. 

ONLY    with     thine     eyes 
shalt   thou   behold    and 
see  the  reward  of  the  wicked. 


(T-4E  CAUSE  thou  hast 
vli/  made  the  Lord,  which 
is  my  refuge,  even  the  most 
high,  thy  habitation. 

OHERE   shall  be  no   evil 
befall    thee,    neither 
shall   any  plague  come  nigh 
thy  dwelling. 

HOR    He    shall    give   His 
angels    charge    over 
thee,  to  keep  thee  in  all  thy 
ways. 


shall  bear  thee  up 
in  their  hands,  lest 
thou  dash  thy  foot  against 
a  stone. 


shalt  tread  upon 
S  the  lion  and  adder;  the 
young  lion  and  the  dragon 
shalt  thou  trample  under 
thy  feet. 

tECAUSE  He  hath  set 
His  love  upon  me, 
therefore  will  I  deliver  Him; 
I  will  set  him  on  high,  be- 
cause He  hath  known  my 
name. 

nE    shall    call    upon    me, 
and    I    will    answer 
Him;  I  will  be  with  Him  in 
trouble;   I  will  deliver   Him, 
and  honor  Him. 


long    life    I     will 
satisfy    Him,    and 
and  shew  Him  my  salvation. 


This  is  the  Man,  no  matter  what  his  rank,  or  none,  who 
served  his  Country  as  an  Aid-de-Camp. 


Name 


Born    in 


Home 


College 


Businness 


Married  Single 


Wife's    Name 


War    bride    ...  Children 


Entered   National   Army 
From    .. 


By    Enlistment 


Draft 


From   Regular  Army 


National   Guard 


Previous  Service  in  War,    in    

From  1st 2nd 3rd Officers'  School At  

Arrived   at   Camp   Lewis   _ 

Assigned  to  

Transferred  to Company Regiment Brigade Division 

Promoted  from  ...  to    


Left   Camp    Lewis 


Shoulder  to   shoulder  long  drill  days  through, 
Cot  next  to  cot  through  the  short  lone  nights : 
Mile  upon  mile  as  the  Continent  backslides : 
On  through  the  Danger  Zone:  on  into  France — 
See,  here  their  Names  I  write,  these  were  my  Pals. 


Transferred  to  (Date) 

Embarked  from upon (Date) 


Reached    (Date) 

§  28 


To  keep  our  Little  Children  safe  and  childlike  in  Homes 
of  Plenty,  to  prevent  immolation  of  Sacred  Motherhood  upon 
the  altar  of  lust,  that  a  hellish  breed  pollute  not  our  own  heart's 
blood  to  inherit  our  Land;  to  hold  one  great,  rich,  beautiful 
Country  of  Refuge  always  Open  to  Opportunity  but  forever 
Closed  to  Oppression;  to  aid  the  Crucified  Countries  allied 
against  the  Hun  and  the  Hell  to  which  he  consigned  them — 
then  US — to  do  One  Man's  Part  in  Making 

"The  Whole  World  Safe  for  Democracy," 


entered    that    Inferno    with    the   American   Army,   and 

Fought  First  at  and 

Thereafter  at  .. 


And,  please  God,  he  came  again  Home,  to  finish  the 
record  with  his  own  right  hand,  in  the  Joy  of  that  Victory 
which  is  Sure,  for 

ffiuilit  iflahrs  iflwlit 

But  should  he  fall — falter  nor  fail  will  he  never — make 
certain  that  he  entered  Joyously  into  Glory,  cheering  Victory 
before  'twas  won  in  France,  finding  himself  quite  at  Home  in 
that  Fair  Country  where  Freedom  was  born,  and  rushing  into 
"The  House  not  made  with  hands,"  just  as  he  used  to  do,  for 
'tis  his  own,  paid  for  with  his  life. 


CAMP   LEWIS  411 

(Elir  3Urat  iHemarial  Dag  at  (Eamp  Unuis 

So  May  came  'round,  and  Memory  Day,  a  Holy-day 
for  some,  a  Holiday  for  many.  At  half  mast  hung  the 
grieving  Flag,  remembering  her  dead,  those  who  had 
dyed  her  stripes  in  their  own  warm  blood,  whose  fixed 
white  faces  had  looked  last  into  her  clear  blue  sky,  where 
stars  still  shone  for  eyes  that  saw  no  more. 

Sea  and  land  had  hid  them,  alas,  our  own  land  most.  In 
far  isles  of  the  Orient  had  they  laid  them  down,  and  now, 
after  a  generation's  peace,  the  living  had  gone  forth  to  join 
them.  From  this  very  cantonment  had  some  already  joined 
the  Army  of  the  Dead,  and,  invisible  to  themselves,  or  to 
those  who  stood  beside  them,  close,  were  others  who  bore  the 
mark  devoting  them  to  sacrifice.  All  this  the  saddened 
Flag  knew.  Some,  too,  of  the  waiting  thousands,  looked 
upon  one  another  and  in  their  hearts  said,  It  is  he?  but 
seldom,  Is  it  I? 

Even  the  Sun  veiled  his  face  with  a  mist.  Motion- 
less the  Flag  clung  to  her  staff,  the  people  stood  reverently 
quiet,  even  the  bugles  held  their  breath. 

Then  the  Sun  reached  its  zenith  and  flung  the  cloud  from 
his  face.  The  poised  arm  of  the  old  band  master  fell  and  the 
massed  instruments  called  to  the  Star  Spangled  Banner  to 
rise  from  her  memories  to  her  present,  to  her  living,  loving 
sons  and  daughters  gathered  below,  ready  and  willing 
for  what  lay  ahead,  knowing  that  while  those  Colors 
fly,  the  whole  world  has  a  Country.  And  she  rose,  shaking 
out  her  flowing  skirts,  and  from  her  full  height,  bade  the 
Living  be  of  good  cheer. 

The  band  played  America  and  the  dear  old  tunes,  their 
leaders  having  shown  a  kindly  thought  in  putting  all  under 
the  hand  of  Burger,  oldest  of  the  Band-masters,  for  the 
camp's  first  Memorial  Day,  and  then  the  people  scattered. 

But  I,  I  rode  through  prairie  more  glorious  than  the 
Field  of  the  Cloth  of  Gold,  spread  with  the  Plantagenet's  own 
flower,  broom  which  swept  away  all  sadness,  and,  midway 
between  camp  and  city,  entered  into  God's  Dormitory, 
where  "He  giveth  his  beloved  sleep,"  where,  tucked  in  as 


412  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

tenderly  as  by  their  own  mother's  hands,  each  lies  still 
and  safe  in  his  lowly  trundle-bed,  through  the  long  earth- 
night,  "Till  the  day  break  and  the  shadows  flee  away." 
0,  soldier  boys,  some  of  your  heads  are  gray  beneath  the 
white  marble  pillows,  but  lads  ye  are  always  to  your 
Mother  Country,  sons  of  the  Nation. 

Under  skies  as  blue  as  the  eyes  of  the  father  patriot, 
whose  name  honors  the  sod  under  which  they  sleep,  it 
is  hard  to  think  of  death.  And  why  should  we  try?  The 
buttercups  crowd  one  another,  each  holding  in  its  golden 
chalice  a  glistening  drop.  Birds  swing  upon  every  tree, 
every  budding  shrub,  and  all  their  song  is  of  life,  life 
everlasting.  Only  the  solemn  firs  refer  to  the  past  tragedy 
of  the  soldiers'  dying  lives  and  deathless  deaths,  singing 
low  requiems  over  their  biers. 

Above  each  grave  the  flag  keeps  guard.  Having  borne 
the  stripes  wherewith  our  country  dear  was  healed,  its 
stars  shine  fadeless,  and  there  is  no  night  in  the  little 
mounds. 

I  confess  to  a  heathen  feeling  that  'tis  always  well 
with  the  old  soldiers,  as  Vikings  held  that  the  Valkyrie 
gathered  into  their  arms  all  who  fell  bravely  in  battle,  and 
swiftly  bore  them  to  Walhalla,  thenceforth  to  live  among 
the  gods,  the  chosen  bodyguard  of  Wotan.  But  rather 
should  the  lowly  head-stones  attest  to  "Honorable  Dis- 
charge" from  the  Army  of  the  United  States,  mustering 
into  A  Company,  First  Heavenly  Host,  in  the  Fatherland 
above.  It  is  as  if  these  were  the  stones  of  which  Revela- 
tion spake,  "And  I  will  give  him  a  white  stone,  and  in 
the  stone  a  new  name  written." 

We  used  to  call  this  Decoration  Day,  and  that  is  al- 
most as  sweet  as  Remembering  Day.  To  each  we  give  the 
flag  he  fought  for.  The  Decoration  he  won  we  place  upon 
his  breast  —  no  iron  *  cross,  but  flowers,  the  colors  of 
Distinguished  Service,  the  fragrance  of  Love  and  Memory. 

So,  Soldiers,  if  you  have  not  already  risen  to  higher 
Service,  lie  you  yet  a  little  longer, 

Awaiting  Reveille. 


CAMP   LEWIS  413 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

HOSTESS   HOUSE — MRS.    MacMASTER  AND    MRS.   THORNE — ITS 
HOMEYNESS,    SMILING    AND    EFFICIENT    HELPFULNESS — 

ITS     PERSONNEL THE     CAFETERIA  —  MISS     CONSTANCE 

CLARKE,     COMMANDING     OFFICER — MRS.      McCRACKIN — 
TYPES  OF  GUESTS — THE  KNITTER — PROVERBS  ILLUSTRATED 

A  city  housing  thousands  upon  thousands  of  men  and 
only  one  home:  that  city  is  Camp  Lewis,  that  home  the 
Hostess  House.  At  least  that  is  what  you  enquire  for 
first  time  you  go,  but  afterward,  You  and  He  and  the 
Home  Folks,  which  it  stands  for,  call  it  the  Hostess  House — 
God-Bless-It,  even  if  you  are  American  and  always  in  a 
hurry. 

What  the  cantonment  ever  did  without  it  is  quite  in- 
conceivable. Think  of  dear  little  Mother  come  to  see  you 
and  no  standing  place,  even,  out  of  the  rain  except  the 
narrow  passage  at  barracks.  Wife  could  not  come  at  all 
because  Toddler  won't  be  held.  As  for  Sweetheart — now 
what  do  you  think  about  that!  Wet,  cold  hungry,  dismal 
was  the  little  group  which  dissolved,  sobbing,  taking  the 
heart,  the  needfulest  part  of  his  anatomy,  clean  out  of  a 
fellow.  Desertions  came  about  from  just  such  conditions, 
not  from  cowardice. 

Now  War  Department  problems  are  worked  out 
through  Divisions,  in  multiplications  of  Camps,  by  the 
addition  and  subtraction  of  millions;  but  women  do  not 
like  dealing  with  such  large  numbers.  They  solved  the 
problem  algebraically,  thus: 

Question — What  is  to  be  done  about  it? 

Process — I+UxY.  W.  C.  A.,  raised  to  Nth  Power=X. 

Answer — The  Hostess  House. 


414 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


THE  HOSTESS  HOUSE 

And  Professor  Who  S  Who  of  the  War  Department,  by 
no  means  the  first  to  sigh  with  relief  that  the  class  had 
solved  a  problem  beyond  him,  directed  the  women  to  prove 
the  answer,  and  they  did  it.  A  committee  of  one  hundred, 
country-wide,  was  appointed — the  War-work  Council  of  the 
National  Board  of  the  Young  Women's  Christian  Associa- 
tion to  give  it  its  impressive  name — and  a  trial-sheet 
Hostess  House  was  erected  at  Plattsburg.  Mrs.  William 
Mac  Master  of  Portland,  Oregon,  was  in  New  York  to  at- 
tend the  graduation  of  her  daughter  Maisie  from  a  wel- 
fare training  school,  and  was  appointed  upon  this  national 
committee.  Mrs.  MacMaster  served  her  apprenticeship 
upon  the  Plattsburg  House,  becoming  Master  builder 
through  that  great  Labor  Union  of  Women  who  observe 
no  eight-hour  day,  and  take  few  holidays,  if  any,  since 
they  cannot  vote  their  budget  of  $4,000,000  for  war  activi- 
ties, but  must  raise  it,  administer,  audit  it,  paying  them- 
selves with  Company  checks  good  for  more  work. 

Well,  the  Plattsburg  experiment  having  settled  the 
question,  the  Young  Women's  Christian  Association  was 
requested  by  the  United  States  Department  of  War,  to 


CAMP  LEWIS 


415 


provide  Hostess  Houses  at  all  camps  and  posts.  Accord- 
ingly seventy  have  been  either  built  or  contracted  for,  five 
of  them  for  colored  women. 

Mrs.  MacMaster  came  to  Camp  Lewis  to  arrange  for 
the  second  Hostess  House  to  be  erected,  and  Major  Stone, 


416  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

taking  his  construction  map,  accompanied  her  to  the  site 
she  had  chosen.  "Of  course,"  twinkled  Mrs.  MacMaster, 
"I  picked  out  the  best,  and  the  whole  plat,  to  make  sure," 
which,  as  her  own  Scotch  would  phrase  it,  was  canny 
o'her.  Gen.  Greene  was  greatly  interested  in  the  proposed 
building  and  so  was  Maj.  Stone  who,  giving  it  his  personal 
attention,  hurried  its  construction  so  that  in  exactly  six 
weeks  it  was  completed  and  occupied.  Until  last  Summer, 
Mrs.  MacMaster  had  never  made  a  public  address  in  her 
life,  but  at  three  o'clock  one  afternoon  the  mayor  of  Port- 
land asked  her  to  speak  to  a  few  thousands  or  so,  and  at 
four-thirty  she  did  it,  and  did  it  well,  for  "Out  of  the 
abundance  of  the  heart  the  mouth  speaketh,"  and  she  has 
heart  room  a-plenty,  and  thoughts  to  spare. 

If  Plattsburg  had  the  first,  Camp  Lewis  had  the  next, 
the  best,  and  the  largest  of  all  cantonment  Houses.  It 
should  be  twice  the  size  it  is,  though  its  "living  room"  is 
75x50  feet,  and  it  is  crowded  every  day.  It  cost  but 
$33,000  though  it  is  perfectly  adapted  to  its  uses,  simple, 
artistic,  strangely  home-y  considering  its  size,  light  even 
through  the  sullen  Puget  Sound  Winter,  perfectly  aired 
without  draughts  through  the  tilting  upper  windows. 

It  is  to  Mrs.  Chester  Thorne  that  the  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  visitors  to  the  charming  place  owe  this 
beautiful  building,  the  only  one  at  Camp  Lewis  that  is 
beautiful.  Her  fine  taste  and  practical  ideas  are  embodied 
in  Hostess  House.  It  is  such  a  relief  from  the  prevailing 
ugliness  that  everybody  is  vastly  grateful.  I  do  hope  that, 
as  part  payment,  she  takes  the  satisfaction  in  it  that  I 
should  feel  had  I  accomplished  it.  As  for  the  remainder 
of  the  debt,  it  will  be  paid  on  the  installment  plan,  in 
appreciation,  pleasure,  nerve-soothing,  quickened  art  per- 
ception, here  a  little  and  there  a  little.  Deferred  pay- 
ments have  their  advantage,  often  coming  when  they  are 
most  needed,  when  one's  life-courage  and  go-on-edness  are 
running  low — worse  kind  of  poverty,  that.  Mrs.  Thorne 
and  the  camp  architect  worked  out  the  plans  together. 
You  can  readily  trace  each  in  the  building,  and  can  tell 
which  was  cash  down  and  which  I.  0.  U.  work.  The  other 


CAMP   LEWIS  417 

members  of  the  building  committee,  Mrs.  J.  P.  Weyer- 
hauser  and  Mrs.  W.  F.  Geiger  of  Tacoma,  Mrs.  E.  A. 
Stout  and  Mrs.  Charles  Stimson  of  Seattle,  all  worked  hard, 
selecting  and  purchasing  furnishings  and  equipments  with 
one  eye  upon  adaptability,  and  the  other  upon  economy. 
The  result  is  an  object  lesson  in  the  comfort,  home-y-ness, 
beauty  and  refinement  possible  with  small  outlay. 

To  begin  with,  Hostess  House  is  stained  gray,  inside 
and  out,  not  that  dull,  cold,  impersonal,  impertinent  oh-do- 
you-think-so-gray  which  would  be  worse  than  the  unpainted 
walls  of  the  rest  of  the  cantonment,  but  a  soft,  young, 
pinkish  gray,  warm  and  cheery.  Why,  just  passing  it 
lights  up  the  day.  The  morale  of  the  army  would  be 
improved  by  a  coat  of  paint,  applied  to  the  cantonment, 
not  to  the  young  girls  who  journey  to  it.  Goodness  knows 
they  are  sufficiently  painted,  with  reverse  effect  upon 
morale  and  morals.  If  only  they  would  show  the  same 
spirit  in  giving  of  their  paint,  that  has  been  shown  in 
other  war  activities,  the  government  could  afford  to  make 
the  cantonment  look  more  homelike,  and  prevent  decay. 
It  would  cost  only  $200,000.  Both  faces  and  facades  would 
be  vastly  improved.  Gen.  Helmich,  recommended  this  post 
be  painted — no  intention  of  advertising  a  recent  movie 
play,  even  though  Camp  Lewis  men,  doing  fancy  roping, 
did  appear  in  the  film.  But  the  General  only  recommended, 
leaving  details  to  others.  Here,  then,  is  a  practical  solu- 
tion: once  our  young  girls  see  they  may  serve  their  coun- 
try, their  camp,  their  company,  they  will  gladly  provide 
the  paint  by  dividing  fifty-fifty. 

What  a  detour!  Here  we  are  again  before  the  Hostess 
House.  Mark  that  it  has  curtains;  in  a  man's  city  this 
is  noticeable.  Men  may  laugh  about  women's  never  feel- 
ing at  home  till  the  curtains  are  hung,  but  without  knowing 
it,  they,  too,  feel  that  no  matter  how  hospitable,  home 
should  be  just  a  bit  drawn  in.  That  was  the  reply  to 
a  young  officer's  query — "What  is  it  makes  Hostess  House 
look, — you  know,  sort-of  like  home,  even  outside?"  The 
plain,  straight  curtains  are  all  of  cotton  crepe,  dull  green 
at  the  smoking  room  end,  old  rose  at  the  cafeteria  end, 


418  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

and  soft  yellow  in  the  living  room,  yellow  which  catches 
the  sunshine  when  there  is  any,  and  which  says  cheerily, 
"Sunshine  tomorrow"  when  there  isn't.  There  are  cushions 
on  the  window  seats  below. 

There's  a  big  flagged  porch  which  if  I  were  a  swell  I 
shall  call  a  terrace,  though  it  isn't,  and  over  it  a  pergola, 
"like  the  shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a  weary  land,"  though 
it  only  suggested  that  lovely  verse  because  it  is  delight- 
fully home-y  and  different,  even  if  it  has  no  vines  as  yet, 
in  this  city  of  sameness  and  utility.  When  the  sun  shines, 
the  pergola  casts  shadows  which  make  it  look  underneath 
like  sunshine  cake,  every  other  slice  frosted.  When  it 
rains,  and  even  the  most  optimistic  admit  it  has  rained 
often  this  Winter — 

"Not  often,  only  once,  and  for  keeps."  Now  you  have 
interrupted.  What  I  started  to  say  was  that  when  it  rains, 
people  invariably  lower  their  umbrellas  under  this  pergola 
and  look  up  surprised  when  the  drops  strike  their  necks. 
I  have  seen  a  thousand  people  do  it  if  I  have  one,  and 
that  one  myself.  There  is  just  a  spot  on  each  side  where 
rain  does  not  strike,  and  that  is  in  the  very,  very  corner, 
about  a  foot  square.  I  know  that,  because  a  tall  thin 
private,  and  a  short  thin  girl  sat  there  for  two  hours  one 
blowy,  rainy  dusk,  and  were  quite  warm  and  dry  and 
happy. 

To  reach  the  door,  unless  you  cut  across  lots,  you 
walk  over  a  long  iron  screen  and  a  big  mat.  Hostess 
House  is  the  only  building  on  the  cantonment  that  does  not 
shout  at  you  by  word  of  sign,  Wipe  Your  Feet!  That's 
so  irritating,  don't  you  think?  I  always  do  wipe  my  feet 
unless  I  hear  that,  and  then  I  can  hardly  make  my  feet 
behave. 

Well,  let's  go  in.  Even  the  doors  invite  you.  They 
are  all  of  glass  and  do  not  shut  you  out.  Across  the 
cheery  room  is  a  long  table  scattered  with  great  numbers 
of  magazines  and  lighted  with  several  electric  lamps  with 
soft  yellow  silk  shades.  There  are  roomy  willow  couches 
and  dozens  of  low  willow  chairs  with  pretty  chintz  cush- 
ions. There  isn't  a  fussy  thing  in  Hostess  House,  from 


CAMP  LEWIS  419 

its  brown-eyed  manager  to  these  identical  cushions,  every- 
thing is,  like  these  extremes,  simple,  appropriate,  artistic. 
This  is,  in  itself,  refining  and  educational.  Many  an  over- 
dressed girl,  from  a  home  of  gilt  chairs  and  "hand-painted" 
rolling  pins,  must  have  gained  something,  just  waiting 
there.  The  only  unbalanced  thing  is  the  thonged  chairs, 
which  induce  unkind  feelings  and  muttered  remarks.  They 
are  fairly  hysterical,  those  chairs,  flinging  themselves 
violently  upon  the  floor  if  one  but  hang  a  knitting  bag 
about  their  necks.  It  is  undignified  to  be  always  having 
words  with  a  chair. 

Of  course  you  gravitate  to  the  room's  end  to  a  huge 
fireplace  built  of  stones  which  the  glacier  brought  here 
so  long  ago  and  left  a-purpose.  The  broad  rubble  chimney 
shows  all  the  way  to  roof-tree.  The  man  who  built  it, 
did  it  as  one  of  old  built  the  wall,  "with  both  hands, 
earnestly."  Verily  he  builded  himself  into  that 
chimney,  choosing  the  great  stones  and  grouping 
them  as  if  they  were  set  in  a  coronet,  which  indeed 
they  are,  in  the  crown  of  Hostess  House.  I  like  to  think 
of  that  workman,  as  his  part  of  our  Country's  war,  and 
peace,  building  a  great  chimney  that  would  "draw",  draw 
tired  bodies  and  homesick  hearts  and  beauty-searching 
eyes,  signaling  in  flashes  of  fire  its  message,  that,  for  all 
this  fireplace  typifies,  men  sit  here  far  from  their  own, 
to  go  still  farther  soon.  This  fireplace  never  smokes,  so 
if,  as  sometimes  happens,  misty  eyes  gaze  into  it,  'tis 
thoughts  like  these  that  fill  them.  Yes,  that  workman 
builded  much  more  than  a  fireplace.  Sitting  upon  the 
long  bench  before  it,  watching  the  logs  blaze  and  crackle, 
this  first  long  dreary  Winter  of  war,  thousands  have  seen 
in  its  coals  homes  upon  lonely  countrysides,  in  scattered 
villages,  or  great  seaports,  for  truly, 

"Each  man's  chimney  is  his  golden  milestone:  the  Spot 
from  which  he  reckons  every  distance." 

So  sign  your  I.  0.  U's  to  the  workman  for  a  gift  more 
beautiful  than  even  the  great  blue  and  white  vases  with 
which  Mrs.  Thorne  added  the  last  touch  to  the  broad 


420 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CAMP  LEWIS  421 

mantel,  vases  always  filled  with  the  beautiful  greens  of 
this  Puget  Sound  country. 

For  three  months,  an  immense  holly  wreath,  eight  feet 
across,  hung  high  upon  the  chimney,  the  gift  of  Portland 
at  Christmas.  Chief -of -Staff  Major  Clark  sent  a  superb 
tree  which  pierced  a  hole  in  the  roof,  so  that  stars  hung 
upon  its  branches — or  perhaps  they  were  Christmas  tree 
ornaments — but  that  is  another  story. 

Half  way  up  to  the  high  girdered  roof,  across  one  end 
of  the  living  room — you  are  but  camping  out  anywhere 
else  on  the  cantonment — is  the  writing  corridor,  with  many 
camp-made  pine  desks,  with  pretty  yellow  shaded  electric 
lamps.  Good  stationery  is  yours  for  the  asking,  and  postals 
with  four  views  of  Hostess  House,  also  free,  which  say, 
"Write  home  what  you  think  of  Hostess  House."  In  these 
days  of  economizing,  this  is  a  clear  case  of  ink-waste, 
because  everybody  does  write  about  it  without  being  asked. 
However,  it  is  the  first  Hostess  House  I  ever  saw  which 
would  dare  request  people  to  write  home  what  they 
thought  of  it.  It  is  to  be  feared  the  Hostess  women  will 
be  spoiled  by  undissenting  praise.  A  breezy  'tenant  in- 
sists, "I've  been  stationed  in  the  motor  section  at  seven 
of  the  cantonments.  Camp  Lewis  is  far-and-away  the 
best,  and  its  Hostess  House  is  right  in  at  the  jump.." 
Fact  is,  there  may  be  some  little  grumbling  at  camp,  but 
the  man  to  voice  the  first  adverse  criticism  of  Hostess 
House  is  yet  to  be  located,  so  is  the  woman. 

No  sooner  said  that,  than  heard  of  both.  Several  women 
said  the  writing  gallery  is  monopolized  by  men.  "Why 
don't  some  of  them  write  in  their  Y.  M.'s  or  Knights-of, 
and  leave  one  desk  at  least  for  us  women?"  In  fact  I 
said  that  once  myself,  and  the  man  said  he  grew  sick  of 
sitting  in  a  hall  where  one  had  to  stop  writing  to  hew 
out  another  square  of  smoke  every  time  he  turned  a  page. 
That  certainly  surprised  me,  for  the  whole  Country  seems 
to  have  gone  daft  over  smoking,  like  tangoing  before  the 
war.  Why,  the  very  women  who  went  about  preaching 
the  evils  of  tobacco,  are  soliciting  money  "for  soldiers' 
smokes",  in  response  to  "pathetic  appeals"  from  said  sol- 

§  29 


422  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

diers;  have  unpinned   their  white  ribbons,  and  for  all   I 
know  are  tying  them  around  packages  of  "coffin-nails." 

Beyond  the  writing  gallery,  separated  by  an  unseen 
hall,  are  the  bedrooms  of  Hostess  House  Y.  W.  Staff, 
small  camp  quarters  of  pine,  with  swinging  casements  and 
chintz  and  muslin  curtains,  bare  floors  save  for  a  large 
soft  Navajo  rug  in  each.  Drawers  and  tables  are  camp- 
made  and  the  unceiled  sloping  roof  suffers  the  rain  to 
play  a  soft  Tattoo  and  to  sound  Taps  in  truly  martial  style ; 
for,  by  special  act  of  Congress,  these  women  are  allowed 
to  live  within  the  cantonment,  enlisted  as  war-workers, 
the  only  women  except  nurses  who  are  allowed.  So  you 
see  why  Hostess  House  and  the  Base  Hospital  are  truly 
the  only  bits  of  home  that  the  men  have;  for  men  may 
build  houses,  but  never  homes.  In  these  huge  canton- 
ments it  is  even  lonelier  that  it  used  to  be  in  army  posts, 
where  the  officers  had  their  own  little  homes.  Even  were 
they  stationed  here,  privates,  by  army  regulations,  could 
not  enjoy  their  hospitality;  so  Women-kind,  you  should 
share  the  gratitude  of  your  boys  at  camp  that  these  two 
groups  of  noble  and  attractive  young  women,  albeit  so  few 
and  so  busy,  are  vouchsafed  them.  No  wonder  there  is 
arising  a  new  chivalry  among  them,  which  if  it  still 
existed,  has  been  very  generally  hidden  of  late,  especially 
in  this  West  which  once  boasted  of  it.  In  street  cars, 
for  instance,  men  have  shoved  women  aside  to  rush  in 
and  pre-empt  seats — one  disgusted  conductor  said  sarcasti- 
cally to  two  women  with  bundles  who  had  been  repeatedly 
pushed  aside.  "Ladies,  ladies,  will  you  not  kindly  step 
aside  and  let  these  gentlemen  aboard."  I  have  repeatedly 
seen  women,  hereabout,  give  their  seats  to  mothers  holding 
babies,  while  men  looked  on;  have  seen  old  gentlemen  rise 
with  a  bow  to  insist  upon  white-haired  women  taking 
theirs,  while  boys  grinned.  Never,  now,  if  the  seated  are 
in  khaki.  The  uniform  seems  to  transform  the  commonest 
men.  Once  'twas  "an  officer  and  a  gentleman",  now  he 
is  "a  soldier  and  a  gentleman."  Speak  to  any  private  on 
the  cantonment  and  prove  it,  always  a  courteous  reply,  and 
respectful.  Perhaps  the  nurses,  immaculate  in  white  gown 


CAMP   LEWIS  423 

and  caps  speaking  Mercy,  these  Hostess  women  with 
lettered  bands  upon  their  arms  spelling  Service,  with  faces 
clean  of  rouge,  eyes  that  shine  with  helpfulness,  but  do 
not  burn  blackened  circles,  look  more  worth-while,  and 
awaken  American  Chivalry  in  war  time.  This  Chivalry 
is  another  Compensation. 

Speaking  of  smoking,  under  the  gallery  a  large  room 
is  devoted  to  it,  with  a  fireplace,  easy  chairs,  small  stands 
and  trays,  a  womanly  little  hint,  piano  with  music,  news- 
paper files,  magazines.  It  is  noticeable  that  men  spend 
very  short  periods  in  this  room. 

The  women's  rest  room  beyond  the  office  is  a  godsend, 
restful  even  to  the  eye  with  its  green  rugs  and  curtains, 
its  green  covered  pillows  and  couches,  with  warm  cover- 
ings not  forgotten.  A  long  dressing  table,  daintily  covered 
and  topped  with  glass,  a  mirror  over  its  full  length,  ranged 
with  chairs,  enables  Miss  Fair  to  look  her  prettiest  when 
Mr.  Young  arrives. 

Off  from  this  room  is  the  dearest  nursery,  pale  gray 
and  rose,  low  white  table  and  tiny  chairs,  dolls  and  blocks 
and  cambric  scrapbooks,  and  child  pictures  upon  the  walls 
for  sleepy  eyes  to  lose  when  they  close  in  the  white  cribs, 
warm  under  the  rosebud  covers.  Rose-color  for  them,  dear 
little  ones,  but  a  deeper  red  for  many  of  their  fathers 
fighting  for  them  Over  There,  soon.  Mothers  who  have 
come  a  long  way,  want  an  undisturbed  talk,  and  a  Y.  W. 
who  loves  children  is  there  for  no  other  purpose  than 
caring  for  them. 

Here's  the  office  where  one  may  check  belongings  and 
obtain  stationery  free,  buy  stamps  and  gain  information. 
If  there  is  anything  that  those  young  women  do  not  know, 
and  do  not  tell  with  smiling  and  untiring  patience,  I  have 
not  yet  heard  it.  There  is  no  patronizing,  nor  manifest 
amusement  when  questions  are  absurd.  It  is  safe  to  say 
that  no  one  ever  left  that  counter  smarting  from  a  mental 
pinprick.  There  is  no  keeping  people  waiting  while  the 
attendant  gossips  with  friends.  In  short,  it  is  as  business- 
like as  any  army  office  in  the  camp,  and  there's  a  kind- 
liness, a  personalness  in  the  atmosphere  which  in  itself 


424  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

is  reassuring.  Yet  such  funny  things  do  happen.  One 
day  up  rushed  a  fluffy  young  girl  whose  brains,  assuming 
she  had  any,  were  successfully  camouflaged,  and  said 
breathlessly,  "Ring  the  General  up  quick.  I  must  see 
Charlie  this  minute.  I've  just  come.  You  know  we  were 
only  engaged  one  day  before  they  made  him  come  here. 
I  want  General  Greene  to  send  him  right  over." 

This  was  surely  a  test  case,  but  the  informant  answered 
pleasantly;  "I  think  we  would  better  not  speak  to  the 
General  about  it.  He's  rather  busy,  and  the  Lieutenant, 
or  even  the  Company  Sergeant,  would  be  more  apt  to  know 
him,  you  see."  It  would  help,  too,  if  she  knew  his  regi- 
ment and  company — by  the  way,  what  was  Charlie's  other 
name?  It  transpired  she  could  answer  all  three  questions, 
and  the  Y.  W.  'phoned  for  the  excited  girl. 

By  strange  chance,  that  private  was  Charlie-on-the-spot, 
and  at  liberty,  and  allowed  to  come  at  once  to  Hostess 
House.  When  he  opened  the  door  she  rushed  at  him  and 
he  at  her.  There  was  a  swirl  of  girl  and  a  wrapping  of 
khaki  which  made  everyone  gasp,  and  the  Hostess  felt 
obliged  to  interrupt.  "But  we're  engaged,"  cried  the  girl. 

"Haven't  you  a  private  room!"  exclaimed  Charlie. 

The  Hostess  explained  that  such  contingencies  had 
been  unprovided  for.  "But  what  are  we  to  do?"  both 
demanded.  The  hostess  suggested  that  the  seat  beside  the 
fireplace  was  a  trifle  less  conspicuous  than  the  center  of 
the  hall. 

"And  can't  I  even  hold  her  hand?"  inquired  Charlie. 
"Not  if  I  see  it,"  replied  the  hostess,  trying  hard  to  purse 
her  lips  sedately. 

Hostess  House  was  opened  November  10.  Perhaps  it 
is  just  as  well  that  the  men  had  those  three  homeless 
months,  and  their  women  folk  had  nowhere  to  meet  them, 
it  is  the  more  prized.  I  thought  every  man  in  the  Ninety- 
First  had  been  there,  but  in  March  found  one  who  had 
just  paid  it  his  first  visit,  a  young  fellow  from  a  wealthy 
California  family,  whose  mother  had  come  to  visit  him. 
Of  course  she  must  be  met  at  Hostess  House,  which  he 
had  all  along  steadfastly  refused  to  enter.  He's  making 


CAMP  LEWIS  425 

a  perfect  nuisance  of  himself  now,  telling  men  who  have 
spent  every  spare  minute  there  all  Winter,  what  a  bully 
place  that  is.  "I've  been  a  plumb  fool.  I  want  to  get  it 
off  my  chest.  Thought  I'd  strike  a  line  of  Darbs  just 
inside  the  door.  The  head  one  would  inquire  my  name 
and  I'd  say  Sutton.  She'd  introduce  me  to  the  next,  rapid, 
who  would  look  clean  over  my  head  and  say,  Dee-lighted, 
Mr.  Button?  Next  Button,  then  Hutton;  each  would  hold 
out  a  limp  hand  and  the  end  one  would  say,  "Oh  Mr.  Nut- 
ton"  which  I  should  be,  "come  again",  which  I'd  never  do, 
and  hand  me  a  Bible."  I  assure  you  I  have  quoted  him 
verbatim,  his  president,  David  Starr  Jordan,  is,  as  you 
know,  a  stickler  for  elegant  English. 

Now  this  is  positively  the  only  time  Hostess  House 
women  ever  were  lined  up,  and  you  see  for  yourself  it 
was  for  the  purpose  of  taking  this  picture.  They  are  al- 
ways so  busy  that  they  flock  alone — this  is  St.  Patrick's 
day.  I  shall  never  see  it  without  thinking  of  that  "line 
of  Darbs".  The  boyish-looking  one  in  the  center  is  Miss 
Constance  Clark,  manager  of  a  nine  whose  team-work  is 
wonderful.  The  vicious  person  on  her  right  is  a  libel 
upon  Mrs.  McCrackin  of  San  Francisco,  Hostess.  The  tall 
one  next  is  Miss  Maisie  MacMaster  of  Portland,  Assistant- 
Hostess,  with  the  smile  that  won't  come  off.  The  bright- 
eyed  woman  next,  is  Mrs.  McBride.  California,  manager 
of  the  cafeteria,  incidentally  "pal  of  half  the  boys  at  camp", 
one  of  them  says.  There  are  three  in  a  row  not  German 
anyway — and  beside  her  Mrs.  Dawley  of  Spokane,  cashier. 
The  little  little  one  at  Miss  Clark's  left  is  Miss  Morjorie 
Greig,  Tacoma,  information  clerk,  the  one  who  has  never 
yet  added  to  I-don't-know  that  insolent  I'm-sure  of  most 
information  clerks,  and  who  kept  serious  finding  Charlie. 
She  has  real  genius  in  helping  people  with  suggestions, 
the  next  Darb  Miss  Ruth,  Gazzam — from  Seattle,  is  as 
her  friends  call  her,  the  Girl-with-the-million-dollar-smile, 
book-keeper.  Mrs.  Williamson,  Santa  Barbara,  is  in  charge 
of  the  nursery  and  rest  room,  and  the  end  one,  a  war  bride, 
Mrs.  G.  A.  Davis,  San  Francisco,  assistant  in  the  cafeteria. 
It  is  only  just  to  add  that  the  smiles  were  not  donned  for 


CAMP   LEWIS  427 

the  occasion,  any  more  than  the  clothes,  just  every-day. 
The  picture  is  remarkable  in  that  it  caught  Mrs.  Mc- 
Crackin,  the  very  first  time  she  was  ever  seen,  by  any- 
body, unsmiling. 

I,  too,  "must  get  it  of  my  chest;"  I  had  had  consider- 
able experience  in  Hostess  Houses  at  various  expositions, 
and  I  Did-Not-Like  them.  To  be  sure  I  had  not,  being 
myself  an  official,  been  "of  the  mob"  to  be  snubbed  there, 
but  neither  snob  nor  snub  in  mine,  to  be  slangy.  My  visual- 
ization had  not  been  a  line  of  Darbs,  but  a  group  of  society 
women,  drinking  tea  in  a  handsomely  furnished  house, 
built  at  State  expense,  occupied  by  hostesses  without  ex- 
pense to  themselves,  appointed,  not  because  tactful,  grac- 
ious, or  even  clever,  that  they  might  make  their  State 
people,  who  were  paying  out  their  own  money  at  the 
exposition,  welcome  and  comfortable,  dear  no!  but  to  pay 
political  debts,  to  sponge,  to  make  everybody  who  dared 
it  once,  so  unwelcome  and  uncomfortable  that  a  return 
snub  was  superfluous.  So  I  refused  to  attend  the  opening 
of  Camp  Lewis'  Hostess  House:  I  despised  Hostess  houses. 

There,  I  have  had  that  on  my  mi — chest,  for  some 
time,  and  been  so  ashamed  of  it.  This  Hostess  House  is 
just  exactly  everything  those  were  not.  The  grand  piano 
is  for  anyone  to  play,  and  there  is  good  music  every  day. 
The  camp  boasts  many  voices  hitherto  heard  only  on  con- 
cert, or  even  operatic,  stages,  many  really  great  pianists. 
These  drop  in  for  a  bit  of  home  and  are  heard  off-hand. 
Soldiers  with  instruments,  on  their  way  to  give  a  free 
concert  somewhere  on  the  cantonment,  play  some  numbers 
here.  Anyone  may  start  the  fine  phonograph  and  feed  it 
records  by  the  hour — and  alas  and  alack,  sometimes  does. 
He  enjoys  it,  anyway.  There  are  books  on  shelves  beside 
the  fire ;  help  yourself.  There  is  no  rank  at  Hostess  House. 
If  any  distinction  is  made,  it  is  in  favor  of  enlisted  men. 
When  General  Greene  drops  in,  as  he  sometimes  does  of 
an  evening,  nobody  pays  any  attention.  He  talks  with 
the  Hostess  ladies  or  anyone  else  he  knows  and  applauds 
what  he  enjoys  at  the  piano.  Full  of  fun  himself,  he  likes 
to  see  people  having  a  good  time,  and  they  have  it  here. 


428  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

The  highest  officers  in  the  army  stand  in  line  for  the  meals 
they  often  eat  here.  All  celebrities  at  camp  drop  in  in- 
formally, Joseph  Fall,  the  Canadian  ace  who  brought 
down  twenty-nine  airplanes,  said  Hostess  House  was  bully, 
and,  when  cornered,  admitted  flying  also  was  bully — oh, 
everybody  comes,  even  from  the  world's  torn  edges. 

For  courtesy's  sake  one  of  the  Military  Police  is  kept 
on  guard  at  Hostess  House,  though  he  has  never  been 
needed.  Only  once  has  anything  unpleasant  happened. 
When  the  negro  troops  were  at  camp,  one  of  them,  with  a 
beautiful  voice,  came  one  evening  and  sang:  delightful 
songs  at  first,  then  some  that  jarred,  then  some  which 
disgusted.  The  Hostess  had  never  been  present  at  such 
a  performance.  She  confesses  that  her  knees  shook  like 
her  voice  when  she  crossed  to  the  negro  and  said,  "You 
cannot  sing  anything  like  that  here."  He  glared  at  the 
gentlewoman  who  faced  him,  but  a  smile  broke.  He  sang 
once  more,  something  fit  for  his  fine  voice  and  left,  having 
the  grace  never  to  come  again.  Several  soldiers  apologized 
for  not  interfering.  One  candidly  said,  "I  think  the  others 
are  as  ashamed  as  I  that  we  allowed  such  a  thing  in  Home 
House  and  that  we  weren't  sooner  disgusted  ourselves. 
We  were  just  eating  it  up.  I  say  it's  too  bad."  And  it  was ; 
but  it  was  the  first  and,  to  date,  the  last  despoilment  of 
the  beautiful  hospitality  of  Hostess  House. 


Camp  Lewis'  H.  H.  (Her  Highness)  is  everywhere  con- 
ceded the  most  successful.  At  the  recent  national  meet- 
ing of  the  association,  it  was  commended  as  model  in 
every  respect.  Committees  constantly  visit  it  for  sugges- 
tion. In  February  came  a  lady  from  Camp  Fremont  to 
study  it,  for  all  Hostess  Houses  are  not  yet  built.  The 
same  month  Mrs.  Walter  Douglas  visited  the  House  for 
the  National  Board  as  Supervisor  over  War  Activities  for 
Women.  By  the  way,  talk  of  a  capitalists'  war;  that,  in  a 
sense,  it  is.  Here  is  a  family  of  them,  Douglas  of  Douglas, 
Arizona.  The  son,  Lieut,  Lewis  D.  is  at  Camp  Lewis, 


CAMP  LEWIS  429 

and  his  mother  for  the  Winter  at  the  Country  Club  just 
outside,  while  her  husband,  Maj.  J.  S.  Douglas,  is  in  charge 
of  Red  Cross  stores  in  France  where  he  went  when  the 
United  States  entered  the  war.  Walter,  his  brother,  ac- 
companied his  wife  upon  this  inspecting  trip.  What's  the 
use  of  copper  mines  anyway,  if  Huns  should  come  to  oper- 
ate them,  impressing  our  women  at  "twenty  lashes  a  day" 
and  ordering  our  little  children  "beaten  if  lazy",  to  work 
in  them? 

And  who  is  the  head?  See  that  young  woman  with  the 
frank,  brown  yes,  the  nobly  shaped  head  with  its  mass  of 
brown  hair,  with  the  ready,  winning  smile  and  the  alert, 
confident  bearing?  That  is  Constance  Clark,  and  Con- 
stancy is  what  has  trained  her  for  this.  She  is  another 
one  who  did  not  happen.  An  officer's  daughter,  her  life 
has  been  spent  at  army  posts  from  West  Point  to  what 
might  be  called  our  East  Point,  the  Philippines.  She  can 
ride,  she  can  swim,  both  her  eyes  and  her  feet  can  dance, 
and  she  uses  her  head  to  think  with.  Miss  Clark  entered 
Y.  W.  C.  A.  work  with  characteristic  thoroughness.  She 
was  assistant  at  the  conference  grounds  near  Del  Monte 
on  the  famous  Seventeen-Mile  Drive,  and  in  the  Y.  W. 
cafeteria  at  the  Panama  Exposition.  In  1916,  Miss  Clark 
entered  Simmons  College,  Boston,  for  a  special  one-year 
course  in  Institutional  management.  Methods  there  do 
not  follow  instructions  in  the  poem  beginning,  "Mother, 
may  I  go  out  to  swim?"  The  1500  students  took  turns 
at  catering  for  500.  They  learned  commercial  laundrying 
by  doing  it,  and  dormitory  work  likewise.  They  spent 
thirty-two  hours  a  week  learning  the  management  of  hotels, 
cafeterias,  and  servants,  by  managing  and  serving.  Miss 
Clark  can  direct  and  supervise  and  buy,  because  she  her- 
self has  done  it  all,  and  more.  That  is  what  the  people 
of  eight  states  and  a  territory — to  begin  with — have 
against  Miss  Clark,  she  has  demonstrated  her  unusual 
efficiency  so  markedly,  that  she  has  been  ordered  to  France 
to  take  charge  of  a  large  hotel  for  Y.  W.'s  in  Paris. 


430 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CAMP   LEWIS  431 

"In   life's   small   things    be   resolute   and   straight 

To  keep  thy  muscle  trained. 
Who  knows  when  Fate 

Thy  measure  takes,  or  when  she  says  to  thee, 
I  find  thee  worthy,  do  this  deed  f\or  me." 

But  her  measure  is  taken,  she  can  fill  a  larger  place, 
and  Constance  Clark  is  to  go.  'Twould  be  too  much  luck 
even  for  fortunate  Camp  Lewis,  to  expect  such  another. 

If  Mrs.  Thorne  had  been  clairvoyant,  she  would  have 
planned  for  thrice  the  space  occupied  by  the  cafeteria,  the 
only  place  allowed  on  the  cantonment  by  the  War  Depart- 
ment where  food  can  be  sold  except  by  the  government. 
Under  generalship  of  Mrs.  Mabel  McBride,  who  has  been 
for  years  in  Y.  M.  C.  A.  work  at  Asilomar,  California,  the 
Conference  Grounds,  the  Panama  Exposition  etc.,  the 
cafeteria  has  grown  in  success  from  the  first,  serving  as 
high  as  3800  in  a  day,  with  good  home-like  food,  every- 
thing being  prepared  and  cooked  by  the  thirty-eight  help- 
ers. Because  of  this  and  Mrs.  McBride's  careful  manage- 
ment, Camp  Lewis  Hostess  House  is  not  only  self-sustain- 
ing, but  establishes  another  First  in  clearing  some  money, 
to  be  expended  for  a  much-needed  cold-storage  plant  and 
screens.  The  cafeteria  and  modern  kitchen  occupy  the 
North  transept  of  Hostess  House.  Nothing  excapes  Mrs. 
McBride's  keen  but  merry  eyes.  Why,  even  her  heavy  hair 
is  rippling  over  the  joke  of  its  being  gray,  such  jolly  hair. 
Smiles  are  catching  at  Hostess  House.  One  day  when  help 
was  short  and  the  line  long,  someone  said  to  Mrs.  McBride, 
who  had  herself  turned  in  to  help  clear  up  dishes,  "You 
must  be  almost  wild,  Mrs.  McBride." 

"Oh,  do  I  look  it?  That  won't  do,"  and  the  half -smile 
brightened.  It's  not  theory  but  practice  with  her.  So 
the  servers  look  as  if  they  hope  you  will  enjoy  your  food, 
and  feel  sure,  from  inside  information  about  the  spotless 
interior,  that  you  will.  And  the  Filipinos  who  carry  off 
the  trays,  smile  when  they  break  the  line.  It  is  the  same 
good  feeling  from  one  end  of  that  Hostess  House  to  the 
other.  And  to  think  I — and  the  ladies  pay  for  their  own 


432  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

cafeteria  living.  Meals  are  served  from  seven  A.  M.  until 
a  quarter  of  ten  at  night. 

After  Retreat,  a  long  line  of  soldiers  and  their  friends 
extends  very  often  the  length  of  the  building  to  the  end 
of  the  smoking  room.  A  joker  said,  "I  decided  on  pork, 
and  by  the  time  I  got  out  of  the  smoking  room  to  it,  it 
was  bacon." 

But  there  is  no  grumbling.  People  visit  as  they  stand, 
and  many  of  the  women  knit.  One  lady's  sweater  attracted 
several  diners'  attention  as  she  stood  in  line  knitting,  for, 
in  front,  three  large  initials  were  knitted  in.  "No,  not 
original,  the  one  I  saw  had  U.  S.  A.",  and  she  would  good 
naturedly  show  it.  Patience  and  Smiling  are  two  more 
Compensations  of  this  war.  Impatience  has  been  an  Amer- 
ican characteristic,  but  when  people's  whole  time  is  an 
anxious,  working  waiting,  trifles  do  not  vex.  As  for  smil- 
ing, women  have  been  stand-offish,  but  already,  before  we 
have  really  begun  to  suffer,  the  circles  are  broken.  Before, 
had  you  smiled  up  at  a  woman  standing  near,  she  would 
have  glanced  about  to  see  who  was  being  recognized,  or 
she  would  have  stared,  unsmiling,  back;  but  now,  oh  now, 
you  have  somebody  in  the  Service,  and  she  has,  and  you 
are  both  knitting,  and  fearing  and  hoping,  and  smiling. 
Yes,  you  are  certain  to  have  your  smile  smiled  back. 

But  of  course  anybody  would  smile  who  was  near  Mrs. 
McCrackin,  the  hostess,  not  Hostess,  for  among  the  thou- 
sands who  come  and  go,  she  moves  with  a  personal  wel- 
come and  genuine  interest  and  friendliness,  and  helpful- 
ness, that  are  in  no  sense  institutional  nor  perfunctory. 
To  many,  so  very  many,  she  stands  for  what  she  does  to 
me,  the  ideal  woman — but  for  goodness'  sake  don't  tell 
her  I  said  that,  how  she  would  laugh.  Frances  Willard 
said,  "The  mission  of  the  ideal  woman  is  to  make  the  whole 
world  more  homelike,"  so,  evidently,  Mrs.  McCrackin  is 
a  woman  with  a  mission,  though  you  would  never  think 
it  to  look  at  her.  She  is  the  widow  of  a  Commodore  in 
the  United  States  Navy,  has  traversed  many  countries,  and 
known  many  charming  people,  but  never  one  more  charm- 
ing than  herself,  so  genuine,  sympathetic  and  full  of  fun. 


CAMP  LEWIS 


433 


434  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Like  the  rest,  she  knits,  has  become  an  expert,  but— 
it  is  too  good  to  keep:  at  first  she  could  not  achieve  a 
pair  of  socks,  and  'most  everybody's  feet  match,  you  know. 
She  knit  five  before  she  could  mate  them.  It  was 
playing  sock  Solitaire.  Every  now  and  then,  she  would 
finish  a  sock  which  would  chum  with  one  of  the  originals. 
The  first  time  this  occurred  she  was  insufferably  proud 
and  hadn't  the  heart  to  give  them  away.  It  was  not  till 
the  game  progressed  that  she  did.  This  explains  how  it  is 
that  Mrs.  McCrackin,  an  eminently  truthful  woman,  an- 
swered so  many  young  soldiers  who  watched  the  work  of 
her  white  fingers,  "Yes,  this  one  is  for  you";  more  than 
likely  it  would  be  another  odd  sock.  It  really  was  not  a 
case  of  the  man  who  promised  sixteen  people  each  a  puppy 
from  a  litter  of  five,  because  he  considered  it  a  pretty 
mean  man  who  wouldn't  promise  a  friend  a  dog.  Mrs. 
McCrackin  nearly  lost  one  sock  because  a 'six-foot- two  man 
pulled  and  stretched  it  to  make  it  do  for  him,  but  she 
rescued  the  sock,  nursed  it  back  to  life,  and  put  it  under 
her  mattress  to  press. 

Ever  notice  where  the  pockets  on  khaki  come?  You 
need  no  X-ray  to  detect  what  is  there,  but  every  man 
expects  you  to  be  unaware  of  it  when  he  produces  the 
picture.  Almost  all  soldiers  have  one,  and  it  requires  slight 
encouragement,  if  any,  to  draw  it  forth.  One  young  follow 
had  none  till  last  week  when  he  went  to  Seattle.  By  next 
post  a  special  delivery  letter  came  to  Mrs.  McCrackin 
announcing  that  the  sweetest  girl  in  the  world — thera  are 
so  many  that  one  might  almost  write  just  S.  G.  I.  W.  as 
one  does  Y.  W.  C.  A. — after  five  years'  refusal,  had  con- 
sented to  marry  him  and  he  "just  had  to  tell  somebody." 
Is  it  not  a  genuine  compliment  that  the  somebody  is  usually 
the  hostess  of  Home  House?  And  it  is  not  always  the 
young  fellows  who  need  mothering.  One  day  an  elderly 
man  with  nanny-goat  whiskers  said  to  her,  "Be  you  the 
mother  of  this  shanty?  No-o,  you're  not  old  enough." 

Mrs.  McCrackin  asserted  she  was  quite  old  enough,  and 
falling  into  his  humor,  for  she  somehow  always  knows 
when  people  need  her,  asked,  "Don't  you  want  to  confide 


CAMP   LEWIS  435 

in  mother?"  And  he  did,  poor  old  grey-haired  boy,  for 
his  son  was  very  ill  in  the  hospital  and,  and — 

"And  this  is  my  rest  hour,  so  we  will  go  right  over 
and  find  him." 

"Well,  you're  on  the  job  all  right,"  was  his  grateful, 
if  not  graceful,  response.  But  that  is  her  way,  her  rest 
hour  is  usually  spent  visiting  the  sick,  going  part  way 
with  the  dying.  Mothers,  mothers,  how  much  you  owe  this 
slender  woman.  Think  your  love  from  afar  over  to  her, 
that  it  may  shield  her  from  trouble. 

Our  war  uniform  could  hardly  be  improved  upon  for 
service,  but  no  one  has  yet  arisen  to  call  it  beautiful.  Young 
Lieutenant  So-and-So,  when  in  the  world,  is  rich  and  spent 
goodly  sums  upon  clothes.  Quite  casually  he  enquired  at 
the  desk  if  anyone  had  asked  for  him.  Nobody  had.  He 
began  a  close  watch  upon  both  doors.  Had  he  but  been 
a  British  officer,  his  buttons  and  belt  loops  would  have 
been  brass,  susceptible  to  a  gold  shine,  but  alas,  nothing 
of  his  was  amendable  to  polish  but  hair  and  puttees.  He 
must  have  buffered  his  blonde  hair,  and  the  buttees  re- 
sembled copper  greaves  on  a  knight  of  old.  They  actually 
reflected  chair  legs  as  he  passed.  No  wonder  he  was  ach- 
ing to  be  beautiful  when  one  saw  the  Somebody.  Copper 
greaves!  "a  warrior  bold  with  spurs  of  gold"  he  should 
have  been.  The  Lieutenant  is  quite  a  joke,  by  the  way, 
for  unable  to  pour  his  money  into  usual  channels,  he  has 
bought  of  costly  equipment,  "two  hundred  pounds,  or  I'll 
swallow  a  cartridge-capsule",  laughs  one  of  his  Company. 
Since  nothing  beyond  regulations  can  be  carried  when  our 
Lieutenant  starts  for  France,  the  Tacoma  Red  Cross  Gift 
Shop  may  receive  some  handsome  impedimenta  soon. 

Lieut.  So-and-So,  the  diamond  on  his  finger  flashing 
signals  to  the  diamond  on  Hers,  sat  down  not  far  from 
the  meeting  of  two  such  different  people.  A  little  old  lady, 
her  sweet  face  eager  despite  a  deathly  pallor,  one  arm 
covered  with  a  shoulder  shawl,  was  so  intently  watching 
the  door  that  one  could  not  help  joining  the  look,  to  hurry 
the  arrival.  In  rushed  a  tall  private  and  grasped  the  dear 
little  woman  by  both  arms.  Joy  in  her  face  faded  swiftly 


436  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

into  pain  and  the  story  came  out:  boarding  the  train  the 
day  before,  she  had  slipped  and  fallen  upon  her  arm.  "It 
hurt  dreadfully.  I  thought  it  broke,  but  I  was  afraid 
they  wouldn't  let  me  come,  so  I  covered  it  quick  with  this 
shawl,  and  climbed  up  the  car  step.  It  hurt  considerable 
all  night  and  I'm  a  little  tired  'cause  I  couldn't  lie  down 
in  the  seat,  but  nothing  counts,  dear  boy,  'cept  seeing  you. 
I'd  pay  ten  times  that  pain;  only,  just  hold  my  other  hand, 
George-boy."  Of  course  the  brave  little  woman,  widow  of 
a  Civil  War  Veteran  and  seventy-nine  years  old,  was  driven 
over  to  the  Base  Hospital,  where  the  badly  fractured  arm 
was  set  and  where  Mrs.  Hammond  remained  several  days. 
She  had  borne  the  pain  for  twenty-seven  hours  without 
a  murmur,  to  visit  the  grandson  she  had  "raised  from 
babyhood,"  and  her  sole  support  for  years. 

"Ask  exemption?  I  should  say  not.  I  didn't  raise  that 
boy  to  be  a  slacker,  but  to  be  a  credit  to  his  country,  and 
he  is."  Yes,  anyone  could  see  that,  he  could  not  be  other- 
wise with  such  a  grandmother.  If  he  is  as  brave  as  she, 
in  the  battles  to  come  he  will  win  a  medal  she  should 
wear.  Hostess  House  has  sheltered  never  a  braver  woman, 
though  many  a  one  has  smiled  through  a  fare-well  visit 
which  was  breaking  her  heart.  You  can  tell  the  thorough- 
breds every  time,  and  women  have  so  great  a  part  in  the 
force  which  goes  to  the  Front.  Not  long  ago,  a  private 
on  guard  duty  tried  to  shoot  himself  with  the  gun  issued 
for  the  defense  of  his  Country,  two  countries,  for  he  was 
born  in  Italy.  His  wife  had  recently  visited  him,  weeping 
and  wailing,  and  begging  exemption.  Powder-burned,  he 
was  taken  to  the  guardhouse,  saved  from  a  second  attempt 
by  a  fellow  guard  who  grumbled,  "To-elle  was  where  he 
came  from,  and  to  hell  he  was  trying  to  go  when  he  has 
a  chance  to  go  to  France,  and  ticket  some  Germans  to  the 
afore-named." 

Where  you  find  one  coward,  you  generally  find  two ;  and 
when  you  find  one  brave,  you  usually  find  two.  A  woman 
came  from  the  rest  room  and  sat  under  a  window  to  wait, 
woman's  heavy  task.  "I've  shed  buckets  of  tears  this 
Winter:  thought  I'd  run  out,  but  my  fourth  son  leaves 


CAMP  LEWIS  437 

tomorrow  and,  well,  I  just  went  and  bathed  my  eyes, 
wouldn't  haveTora  know  it — my  eyes  aren't  red,  are  they?" 

She  turned  as  brave  and  steady  blue  eyes  as  would  sight 
a  rifle.  When  I  said  that,  they  shone.  "There  are  no 
cowards  in  our  family.  We  have  fought  in  every  war. 
None  of  my  boys  were  drafted.  I  did  feel  a  little  bad  about 
the  fourth,  not  seventeen  and  over  six  feet.  He  went 
where  he  wasn't  known,  but  they  found  out  his  age  and 
refused  him;  he  kept  on.  He's  learning  to  fly.  I  went 
South  to  see  him.  His  officer  says  he's  wonderful,  that 
the  world  will  hear  from  him,  and  that  I  shall  be  proud 
of  him,  but  of  course,"  she  added  simply,  "I  knew  that 
myself.  All  four  are  good  boys.  The  very  air  of  this 
Hostess  House  is  heartening.  Oh,  there  he  is" — 

Sometimes  it  is  the  S.  G.  I.  W.  who  comes  from  the 
old  home  to  see  her  lover.  They  sit  very  close  upon  the 
low  couch,  eat  at  the  cafeteria,  and  after  She  is  gone  He 
sits  apart  at  first.  Sometimes  he  has  gazed  into  the  fire 
rather  puzzled  and  has  dropped  that,  "She  seemed  just  the 
same,  and  somehow  I  am  different  since  I  came  to  Camp. 
I  don't  understand."  Others  do,  he  has  broadened.  Likely 
he  came  to  the  cantonment  a  joking,  irresponsible,  just-for- 
a-day boy.  In  these  few  months  he  has  attained  to  the 
stature  of  a  man.  Already  he  has  distanced  her,  must 
go  back  to  find  her.  If  it  is  true  now,  will  there  not  be, 
as  Bishop  Paddock  said  during  a  sojourn  at  Camp  Lewis, 
an  army  of  heart-and-soul  misfits  when  the  men  come 
back?  They  will  have  fared  forth  in  the  Great  Adventure, 
will  have  exchanged  views  with  men  of  many  nations. 
If  the  women  at  home  exchange  pink  teas  only,  batting 
tennis  balls  while  their  men  are  firing  rifle  balls,  limit 
their  activities  to  a  golf  range,  while  Over  There  'tis  an 
Artillery ;  or  even  if  they  knit  and  make  surgical  dressings 
while  their  loose-jointed  minds  "play  at  make-believe 
think",  the  tragedies  of  by-and-by  are  even  now  being 
written. 

This  is  the  time  to  begin  French,  or  if  the  ordin- 
ary foolery  was  begun  at  school,  to  learn  to  speak  French 
that  when  He  returns  She  may  surprise  him.  Instead  of 

§  30 


438  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

best  sellers,  Atlases  should  be  all  the  rage,  now  that  every 
boundary  and  river  and  town  should  be  familiar  to  the 
stay-at-homes,  and  the  pronounciation  of  its  name  recogni- 
zable. The  limit  so  far,  is  Wipers  (Ypres) . 

Many  of  the  beautiful,  ancient  chateaux  of  France  will 
henceforth  and  forevermore  exist  only  in  memory,  in 
history  and  pictures,  but  some  are  today  occupied  by  our 
soldiers.  The  stories  of  these  centuries-old  piles  are  fascin- 
ating. Several  of  the  palaces  and  chateaux  belong  to  an 
old  great  family,  la  Rochefoucauld,  and  their  Duchess  of 
today  was  of  your  own  State,  Oregon,  Senator  Mitchell's 
daughter,  and  sister  of  the  wife  of  Federal  Judge  Chapman 
of  Tacoma. 

Following  the  army  in  Belgium,  in  France,  in  Turkey 
and  Palestine  and  Italy,  even  on  paper,  that's  travel.  The 
great  cathedrals  which  German  Kultur  is  leveling  to  earth, 
— Joan  of  Arc — have  you  read  that  exquisite  life  of  her  by 
the  last  man  you  would  think  could  write  it,  Mark  Twain  ? 
Read  of  Shakespeare,  and  Verona,  and  Padua,  and  Venice, 
and  of  the  Hun  pouring  his  hordes  toward  Italy  to  batter 
down  those  dream-cities.  Then,  when  They  come  to  us,  we 
shall  not  be  strangers  to  our  best  and  dearest,  but  have 
grown  in  mind  and  heart  and  soul  with  them;  shall  not 
find  ourselves  separated  for  a  second  time,  and  for  life, 
from  the  real  selves  of  those  we  love  because  they  have 
passed  us, — what  a  long,  long  way  and  back,  from  that 
brooding  young  fellow  by  Hostess  House  fire. 

Mothers  and  young  wives  who  are  living  near  the 
cantonment  while  the  troops  are  in  training,  begin  to 
arrive  the  middle  of  the  morning.  They  sit  and  knit,  socks 
and  sweaters,  and  friendships,  and,  all  three  being  hand 
made,  will  wear  long.  Some  knit  so  mechanically  that  if 
they  lay  their  work  down  long  enough  to  tidy  their  hair 
in  the  rest  room,  the  needles  go  on  slipping  in  and  out 
by  themselves.  Not  in?  Well  out,  anyway — Literal  people 
are  so  wearing.  Before  the  order  about  used-shells  went 
into  effect,  some  knitter  picked  up  brass  machine-gun 
cartridges,  just  the  thing,  connected  by  a  piece  of  elastic, 
knotted  into  a  hole  pierced  in  the  side,  to  cap  needles  so's 


CAMP  LEWIS  .    439 

not  to  penetrate  their  knitting  bags,  knitting  bags  of  every 
hue  and  cry.  Of  them  all,  one  "sounds  out"  as  Regs  would 
say,  a  symphony  in  purple,  a  concerto  in  C,  a  colored  jazz 
band !  Extravagant  language  ?  It  is  evident  you  have  never 
seen  that  knitting  bag:  I  have. 

All  the  Hostess  House  ladies  knit  incessantly,  so,  as 
relaxation  from  surgical  dressings,  does  Mrs.  Greene,  who 
directs  a  class  of  forty  in  Tacoma  two  days  a  week,  leav- 
ing her  home  at  eight  in  the  morning  and  allowing  noth- 
ing to  interfere  with  those  two  entire  days.  Mrs.  Greene 
is  greatly  interested  in  Hostess  House  and  counts  it  a 
rare  pleasure  to  sit  there  awhile.  "Perhaps  you  think 
you're  going  to  wear  out  that  sock-heel  on  a  hike,"  re- 
marked a  ruddy-haired,  bright  little  wife,  "Well  you're 
not.  Mrs.  Greene  taught  me  to  turn  that  heel,  and  it's 
to  be  the  family  saving-sock  while  you're  gone.  Jimothy." 

Yea,  truly  do  they  all  follow  after  that  women  in  the 
Birthday  chapter  of  Proverbs,  "who  seeketh  wool  and 
worketh  willingly  with  her  hands."  I  always  )did  like 
proverbs,  one  day  a  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  young  man  gave  me  a 
little  khaki-covered  copy.  Sitting  before  a  blazing  fire 
at  Hostess  House,  turning  its  leaves,  the  whim  came  to 
illustrate  the  verses  with  living  pictures,  for  Woman  is 
neither  ancient  nor  modern,  but  the  Eternal  Feminine. 

Even  in  those  old  days,  knitting  was  by  no  means  all  she 
could  do.  Like  that  successful  California  fruit  grower 
woman  over  there,  "She  consider 'eth  a,  field  and,  buyeth  it: 
ivith  the  fruit  of  her  hands  she  planteth  a  vineyard." 

Beyond  is  a  woman  "whose  husband  is  known  in  the 
gates,  when  h&  sitteth  among  the  elders  a/  the  land," 
and,  oddly  enough,  she  makes  her  own  clothes:  "She 
maketh  herself  coverings  of  tapestry,  her  clothing  is  silk 
and  purple.  She  is  not  afraid  of  the  snow  for  her  house- 
hold, for  all  her  household  are  clothed  with  scarlet."  It 
seems  bright  colors  were  in  vogue  then  as  now. 

The  athletic  woman  of  that  time  could  join  in  con- 
versation near,  though  she  might  be  no  clearer  about  the 
difference  between  a  brassey  and  a — golf  is  too  much  like 
working  your  passage:  "She  (too)  girdeth  her  loins  with 
strength,  and  strengtheneth  her  arms." 


440  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

The  original  Hoover,  be  it  remembered,  was  Mrs. 
Hoover,  and  as  a  matter  of  fact,  she  is  now.  From  Eve 
to  Evelyn,  Woman  has  always  been  the  conserver.  "She 
riseth  also  while  it  is  yet  night  and  giveth  meat  to  her 
household,  and  a  portion  to  her  maidens."  Did  you  ever 
know  a  man  who  would  bother  himself  about  that?  "She 
bringeth  her  food  from  afar.  She  perceiveth  that  her 
merchandise  is  good" — Did  you  even  know  a  man  who 
would  not  slip  out  of  such  household  details?  She  did  not 
wait  for  a  food  conservation  card  to  hang  in  her  window, 
for  "She  looketh  well  to  the  ways  of  her  household." 

There  sits  a  woman  clad  in  the  very  purple  and  fine 
linen  of  this  chapter  and  of  the  D.  A.  R.  Chapter,  to  both 
of  which  she  belongs,  but  unless  the  recipients  offend  her 
by  telling,  you  would  not  guess  that  "She  stretcheth  out 
her  hands  to  the  poor,  yea,  she  reacheth  forth  her  hands" 
— not  a  social  secretary's — "to  the  needy."  Notice  she  goes 
out  of  her  way  to  help,  stretches  and  reaches. 

There  are  two  young  officers  awaiting  a  woman  who, 
with  the  cheery  husband,  was  here  this  morning.  There 
they  come.  "Her  children  rise  up  and  call  her  blessed, 
her  husband  also  and  he  praiseth  her."  Will  that  ever  be 
said  of  Mrs.  Fluffy  Ruffles,  the  charming  war-bride  of  the 
society  column,  over  there  by  the  piano,  already  flirting 
with  Major  Blankety  Blank — her  husband  is  only  a  Second- 
Lieutenant — can  "The  heart  of  her  husband  safely  trust 
in  her?"  Will  she  "Do  him  good  and  not  evil  all  the  days 
of  her  life?"  I  hae  my  doobts. 

As  for  the  girl  with  the  bold  black  eyes,  the  defiant 
air,  she  won't  stay  long,  though  no  one  will  even  hint  that 
the  atmosphere  of  Hostess  House  is  rather  high  for  her 
heart.  Lemuel's  mother  taught  then,  what  Lemuel's 
mother  says  now,  "Give  not  thy  strength  unto  women,  nor 
thy  ways  to  that  which  destroy eth  kings," — not  to  speak 
of  soldiers. 

Having  fitted  words  to  the  portraits  of  some  who  have 
graced  the  House,  the  closing  of  that  chapter  shall  be  the 
closing  of  this,  a  toast  to  Hostess  House  and  its  workers: 
"Give  her  of  the  fruit  of  her  hands;  and  let  her  own  works 
praise  her  in  the  gates." 


CAMP   LEWIS  441 


Upon  the  fifth  month's  first  day,  centuries  agone,  joy- 
ously went  forth  our  English  forebears  into  the  fields  for 
hawthorne,  wherewith  to  decorate  their  homes,  so  "bring- 
ing in  the  May."  Of  their  maidens  they  chose  a  queen 
and  crowned  her  with  flowers.  They  hung  wreathes  high 
upon  a  ribboned  pole  and  circled  it  from  dawn  till  dark. 
Sweethearts,  dancing  and  song,  all  well  enough  for  May's 
first  day,  but  May  means  "to  grow"  and  that  holds  more 
than  Spring. 

One  tropic  night,  the  fireflies,  "watchmen  of  the  insects, 
swung  their  tiny  lanterns  to  light  us  to  a  great  dim  church 
in  Cuba,  toward  which  groups  of  children  wended  their 
way.  Before  the  altar  stood  a  priest  who  blessed  the 
flowers  they  brought,  then  laid  them  down  till  the  bril- 
liant blossoms  banked  the  transept,  "Not  know?  Why 
it  is  the  month  of  Mary,"  of  the  Mother  of  children,  lovers 
of  flowers  and  flowers  of  love.  So  it  is  fitting  that  one  of 
Mary's  days  should  have  been  chosen  for  remembering  all 
mothers. 

Anna  Jarvis  must  have  had  the  kind  of  mother  that 
the  dear  sweet  word  suggests,  and  she  honored  her  in 
millions  of  lives,  when  she  builded  that  mother  a  monu- 
ment reaching  from  earth  to  heaven,  from  time  to  eternity. 
Every  stone  in  it  is  a  day,  and  once  a  year  in  Mary's  month, 
every  mother-lover  in  America  turns  mason  and  adds  his 
to  the  wondrous  shaft,  first  having  written  upon  it  all  the 
loving  words  he  may  have  left  unsaid.  This,  then,  he 
sets  into  the  monument  and  it  becomes  his  own  mother's 
as  well  as  Anna  Jarvis'  mother's. 

Never  before  was  such  a  Mother's  Day  as  May  12,  1918, 
the  first  her  Boy  was  gone  to  war.  There  were  never  so 
many  letters  written  in  one  day  since  Cadmus,  blessed 
be  he,  invented  the  art  of  fixing  thoughts  that  they  might 
live  forever.  Would  it  not  be  tragic  if  thoughts  should 
die  with  people,  or  even  before? 


442  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Gen.  Pershing  had  anticipated  the  day  by  this  message : 

"I  wish  every  officer  and  soldier  in  the  American  expeditionary 
forces,  would  write  a  letter  home  on  Mothers'  day.  This  is  a 
little  thing  for  each  one  to  do,  but  those  letters  will  carry  back 
courage  and  our  affection  to  the  patriotic  women  whose  love  and 
prayers  inspire  us  and  cheer  us  on  to  victory." 

Secretary  of  War  Baker  added  a  line  urging  soldiers 
yet  in  this  Country  to  remember  the  day  by  writing  home. 
This  was  read  at  Retreat  Friday,  and  this: 

"The  division  commander  wishes  to  add  his  urgent  appeal  to 
the  men  of  this  command  to  act  upon  this  suggestion.  Do  not 
forget  that  the  time  will  come  when  this  act  will  be  impossible. 
Do  not  let  that  time  be  filled  with  vain  regrets  for  lost  opportunities 
to  cheer  the  mother  heart  with  a  little  letter." 

Thousands  of  the  letters  you  wrote  that  day,  Ninety- 
First,  are  laid  away  with  the  dearest  things  your  mother 
owns.  They  have  already  been  read  so  many  times  that 
she  can,  and  does,  repeat  them  to  herself,  every  word, 
when  she  wakens  in  the  night,  otherwise  the  paper  would 
be  quite  worn  out.  Just  as  likely  as  not  they  are  now 
in  the  same  box  with  your  Father's  love  letters.  There  is 
probably  room  there  for  more  which  he  has  not  written, 
so  yours  are  especially  precious. 

At  Retreat  there  was  also  announcement  made  of 
special  services  at  all  Y.  M.  C.  A.  huts  and  K.  C.  halls, 
come  Sunday.  Forgetful  men  could  not  forget,  for  Satur- 
day morning  there  lay  at  the  plate  of  every  one  who  was 
to  leave  the  cantonment,  a  mother's-day  card  and  a  flower, 
and  the  same  greeted  every  man  who  was  at  Sunday's 
breakfast.  There  were  more  than  40,000  of  these  cards 
furnished  the  soldiers  by  chaplains  and  the  community 
workers  of  every  sect  in  camp. 

When  Congress  officially  inaugurated  a  National 
Mother's  Day,  in  1914,  we  were  not  at  war.  Perhaps  if 
we  had  been,  there  would  have  been  permission  given 
soldiers,  for  that  one  day,  to  wear  a  flower  upon  the  uni- 
form, as  insignia.  A  white  flower  bespeaks  a  Mother 
gone  on  ahead.  There  are  more  white  flowers  every  year. 


CAMP  LEWIS  443 

Many  men  remembered  this,  and  anticipating  that  woeful 
day  when  watchers  should  lay  their  tardy  flowers  upon 
a  quiet  breast,  sent  them  this  Spring,  to  be  opened  in 
joyful  excitement  by  Mother  herself,  to  be  proudly  worn 
by  Mother — "My  Son,  who  is  a  soldier,  you  know,  sent 
them  to  me."  How  beautiful  she  looked !  All  good  Mothers 
are  beautiful,  they  never  fade  like  other  people. 

The  saddest  men  were  not  they  whose  flower  was 
white,  but  the  poor  fellows  who  knew  in  their  aching 
hearts  that  theirs  were  the  mothers  who  were  best  for- 
gotten. How  terrible  that  must  be.  And  if  any  who  read 
are  those  mothers,  woe  unto  you.  The  void  in  their 
hearts  shall  be  unbridged  in  yours. 

Some  men  sent  their  Sweetheart-Mothers  candy.  A 
few  were  shame-faced  about  it,  too,  as  if  they  had  never 
done  it  before;  but  that's  no  sign  they  will  not  do  it 
again.  Men  at  Camp  Lewis  have  learned  many  things 
beside  firing  rifles  and  cannon.  You  remember  Christmas? 
Well,  to  thousands  of  you,  was  not  Mother's,  another  Red 
Letter  Day? 


444  THE   NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

RELIGIOUS  CREEDS  BY  CENSUS  AT  CAMP  LEWIS — KNIGHTS  OF 
COLUMBUS — MORMONS  AND  ELDER  CALVIN  SMITH — FIRST 
N.  A.  CHAPLAINS'  CORPS — JEWISH  ASSEMBLY  HALL  AND 
RABBI  EGELSON — THE  FLAG  OF  JUDEA — MANY  ACTIVITIES 
OF  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION — BODY,  MIND 
AND  SPIRIT  TRIANGLE — FOSTER,  EDITOR  OF  TRENCH  AND 
CAMP — THE  BIBLE  DRIVE — FAREWELL  CARDS. 

Early  in  the  year,  under  orders  from  the  War  Depart- 
ment, a  census  of  creeds  and  religious  forms  embraced  by 
troops  at  Camp  Lewis  was  taken,  under  charge  of  Lieut. 
George  W.  Raymond,  personal  Aid  to  Gen.  Greene.  The 
compilation  listed  123  ways  to  Love  God  with  all  thy  heart 
and  thy  neighbor  as  thyself;  123  readings  of  the  mean- 
ing of  "And  what  doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee  but  to 
do  justly,  to  love  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly  before  God! 

Of  the  30,000  then  in  camp,  7390  were  Roman  Catholics, 
1114  Mormons,  354  Jews,  226  Greek  Orthodox,  all  re- 
quiring special  chaplains,  beside  20  from  alien  nations 
and  unusual  forms  of  religious  belief  among  Americans, 
leaving  20,916  Protestants  of  varying  denominations,  in- 
cluding 2616  Non-Sectarians,  and  excluding  196  avowed 
unbelievers  in  anything.  There  were  6  Christadelphians, 
3  Golden  Rule-s — would  all  could  honestly  subscribe  to 
their  tenets — 2  Holiness,  and  6  anything  but  that,  Holy 
Rollers,  17  Mennonites,  4  Moravians,  23  Dunkards,  5  New 
Thought,  1  Non-Progressive  Christian — afraid  a  spiritual 
census  would  add  many  to  this  lone  professor — 41  "Ortho- 
dox Christians"  who  seem  to  be  quite  sure  among  the 
thousands — several  Quakers  and  one  Indian  Shaker,  a 
Swedenborgian,  17  Theosophists,  One  Good  Samaritan 
— what  a  careless  census,  there  must  be  more  than  that — 


CAMP  LEWIS 


445 


and  1  Rosicrucian:  Believe  he  signed  that  just  to 
start  people  guessing  about  Rosicrucianism  and  himself, 
for  some  say  it  was  a  real  cult  and  still  exists  in  greatest 
mystery,  and  others  that  it  never  was  anything  but  a 
hoax  and  died  long  ago.  Of  leading  sects  they  numbered 
4487  Methodists,  3156  Presbyterians,  2494  Lutherans,  2229 
Baptists,  1628  Episcopalians,  112  Congregationalists. 

Christian  Scientists  numbered  660.  They,  also  Luther- 
ans and  Episcopalians,  have  no  chaplain  accredited  to  them, 
but  their  denominations  sent  visiting  clergymen  at  their 
own  expense,  as  did  the  Adventists,  numbering  149.  Both 
Christian  Scientists  and  the  Salvation  Army  built  in 
Greene  Park. 


"Number  1,  K.  of  C."  has  a  large  auditorium  and 
stage  used  for  frequent  entertainments  and  dances.  Adrian 
Ward,  the  bright  young  General  Secretary  of  the  Knights 
of  Columbus,  has  his  office  in  this  building,  which  is  to 
be  greatly  improved  and  doubled  in  size.  The  Divisional 
basketball  team  is  there  coached  by  Capt.  Cook,  and  box- 
ing and  wrestling  under  Ritchie  and  Lloyd  are  frequent, 


446  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

the  Athletics  office  being  nearby  in  Liberty  Theater.  Sta- 
tionery is  furnished  at  the  long  desks,  as  in  all  such 
buildings. 

Beside  six  Catholic  priests  spoken  of  as  chaplains  in 
connection  with  their  regiments  and  Base  Hospital,  is 
the  Rev.  Augustine  Dinand  of  the  Jesuits,  who  is  sta- 
tioned at  the  first  and  largest  of  the  Knights  of  Columbus 
buildings,  near  Liberty  Gate.  Behind  the  stage,  between 
it  and  the  priest's  rooms,  is  an  altar  at  which  Father 
Dinand  officiated  at  the  First  Mass  celebrated  at  Camp 
Lewis,  the  First  Sunday  in  October,  1917.  Another  unique 
service  was  conducted  by  Father  Dinand  in  the  isolation 
ward  of  the  hospital  where  meningitis  carriers  are  kept 
in  strict  quarantine,  being  even  obliged  to  wear  masks 
because  they,  immune  themselves,  convey  the  dread  germs 
to  others.  A  nearby  shed  was  used  for  an  altar. 

The  Rt.  Rev.  Patrick  Hayes,  "Chaplain-Bishop  of  the 
United  States  Army  and  Navy",  was  an  important  visitor 
at  Camp  Lewis,  where  he  spent  two  days  upon  a  tour 
embracing  all  the  camps,  and  visiting  all  Knights  of  Co- 
lumbus buildings.  Another  noted  visitor  was  Lieut.  Paul 
Perigord,  who  enlisted  as  a  private  and  won  his  commis- 
sion by  distinguished  service  in  France,  where  he  was 
wounded  and  given  leave  of  absence.  He  is  a  priest,  a 
classmate  of  Chaplain  Nooy  of  the  346th  F.  A. 

There  are  three  Knights  of  Columbus  halls  throughout 
the  camp  and  the  next  Division  will  benefit  by  their  im- 
provements. Catholic  literature  is  given  out  free,  and 
khaki-covered  Douai  Testaments. 


As  Utah  is  one  of  the  draft-contributing  States  to 
Camp  Lewis,  there  are  many  Mormons  in  the  91st  Divis- 
ion, including  a  number  of  officers,  notably  Maj.  Mark 
Croxall  of  the  Military  Police.  For  this  reason  a  chaplain 
has  been  assigned  to  the  Division  at  large,  Elder  Calvin 
S.  Smith.  In  age,  he  is  a  younger  rather  than  an  Elder, 
having  been  born  in  1890,  Salt  Lake  City. 


CAMP  LEWIS 


447 


He  was  graduated  from  Normal  School  of  the  University 
of  Utah  at  twenty,  and  at  twenty-one  appointed  President 
of  the  Chemnitz  Branch  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 
Latter  Day  Saints.  He  served  a  year,  and  another  as 
President  of  the  Conference  in  Hamburg.  There  were 
five-hundred  in  these  branches  in  Germany  where  he  spent 
nearly  three  years,  so  that  he  speaks  German  well.  Upon 
his  return  from  Europe,  he  spent  two  years  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Utah,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1915. 
He  came  to  Camp  Lewis  in  February  as  Chaplain-at-large 
to  the  Mormons. 

Elder  Smith  is  very  proud  of  the  record  of  his  church 
in  this  war,  which  has  subscribed  $450,000  to  Liberty 
Bonds  and  sent  $600  toward  fitting  up  one  of  the  regi- 
mental halls  at  Camp  Lewis  for  a  Library  and  rest  room, 
(the  346th  M.  G.  Bn.) 


448  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

Heber  J.  Grant,  President  of  the  Quorum  of  the  Twelve 
Apostles  of  the  Church,  is  Chairman  of  the  Finance  Com- 
mittee in  the  Utah  State  Council  of  defense;  C.  W.  Nibley, 
Presiding  Bishop  of  the  Church,  is  a  member  of  the  Trans- 
portation Committee  and  the  Committee  of  Industrial 
Survey,  and  John  A.  Widstoe,  President  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Utah,  belongs  to  the  Food  Conservation 
Committee  of  the  State.  James  H.  Moyle,  Prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Church,  is  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  Brigham  H.  Roberts,  a  member 
of  the  First  Seven  Presidents  of  Seventies  in  the  Church, 
is  Chaplain  of  the  145th  F.  A. 

As  for  the  family  of  Brigham  Young,  who  succeeded 
the  founder  of  the  faith,  there  are  thirty-seven  in  the 
service,  from  Col.  Willard  Young,  a  son,  through  twenty- 
two  grandsons  to  fourteen  great-grandsons.  Sixteen  of 
these  were  taken  in  a  group  at  Fort  Douglas.  He  says  at 
Kearney  there  was  an  entire  Mormon  regiment  officered 
only  by  Mormons.  Richard  W.  Young,  President  of  the 
Ensign  Stake  of  the  Church,  Colonel  of  a  Utah  regiment, 
has  been  promoted.  He  commanded  the  'Mormons'  in 
the  Spanish  American  War.  Richard  Burton,  a  grand- 
son of  Brigham  Young,  has  been  awarded  the  Crolx 
do  Guerre. 

"And",  adds  the  Chaplain  of  the  91st,  "Utah's  quota 
for  the  first  draft  was  4945  men,  seventy-five  per  cent 
Mormons.  Until  the  first  draft  call,  Utah  was  fourth  in 
the  Union  in  the  percentage  of  enlistments." 

Latter  Day  Saints  of  the  91st  Division  has  as  Chap- 
lain one  of  the  family  which  founded  their  church.  His 
father,  Joseph  Smith,  President  of  the  Mormon  church, 
was  nephew  of  Joseph  Smith  who  founded  it,  claiming  to 
have  discovered  buried  metal  plates  containing  the  book 
of  Mormon  in  an  unknown  sacred  language,  which  he 
translated.  He  also  promulgated  the  doctrine  of  polygamy 
to  which  the  Germans  are  reverting. 

The  Book  of  Mormon  says: 

"Wherefore,  at  that  day  when  the  book  shall  be  de- 
delivered  unto  the  man  e  of  whom  I  have  spoken,  the  book 


CAMP   LEWIS  449 

shall  be  hid  from  the  eyes  of  the  world,  that  none  shall 
behold  it  save  it  be  three  witnesses,  by  the  power  of  God, 
besides  him  to  whom  the  book  shall  be  delivered,  and  they 
shall  testify  to  the  truth  of  the  book  and  the  things  therein. 
And  there  is  none  other  which  shall  view  it,  save  it  be  a 
few — that  the  words  of  the  faithful  should  speak  as  if 
it  were  from  the  dead". 

e  The  footnote  referred  to  is  "Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,"  and 
of  the  "few" — which  were  eight,  three  of  Calvin  Smith's 
family,  Joseph  Smith,  Sr.,  Hyrum,  and  Samuel  H.  Smith, 
signed  the  testimony: 

"Be  it  kmown  unto  all  nations,  kindred,  tongues  and 
people  unto  whom  this  work  shall  come,  that  Joseph  Smith, 
Jun.,  the  translator  of  this  work,  has  shown  unto  us  the 
plates,  which  have  the  appearance  of  gold;  and  as  many 
of  the  leaves  as  the  said  Smith  has  translated,  we  did 
handle  with  our  hands;  we  also  saw  the  engraving  thereon, 
all  of  ivhich  has  the  appearance  tof  ancient  work,  and  of 
curious  workmanship.  And  this  we  bear  record  with 
words  of  soberness...  We  have  seen  and  hefted,  and  know 
of  a  surety  that  the  said  Smith  has  got  the  plates  of  which 
we  have  spoken.  And  we  give  our  names  unto  the  world 
to  witness  unto  the  world  and  we  lie  not,  God  bearing 
witness  of  it." 

Naturally,  the  Mormons  segregated  themselves  in  the 
religious  work  of  the  camp,  though  Elder  Calvin  Smith 
was  secretary  of  the  First  Chaplains'  Corps  organized  in 
the  National  Army.  Unique  surely,  in  the  world  must 
it  be,  Catholic  and  Protestant,  Jew,  Gentile  and  Mormon, 
divergent  in  faiths  but  convergent  in  works :  Father,  Rabbi, 
Reverend,  Elder,  in  the  Church  Militant,  but  Lieutenants 
all  in  the  National  Army,  wearing  one  uniform,  aim- 
ing only  at  Service.  Every  fortnight  they  meet  in  the 
Library  of  the  Depot  Brigade  to  discuss  tactics,  to  lay 
plans  for  additional  work  for  their  already  overworked 
selves.  For  instance,  Chaplain  Rexroad  was  appointed 
to  see  that  a  regimental  quartet,  its  chaplain  and  a  Y-man 
go  weekly  to  Base  Hospital  to  sing  in  the  wards,  where 
the  boys  welcome  them  with  shouts  if  able,  and  smiles  if 


450  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

weak.  Beside  what  is  mentioned  elsewhere,  chaplains  have 
erected  five  assembly  halls  and  furnished  them  for  the 
soldiers  with  funds  raised  by  entertainments  and  gifts. 

Entertainments  themselves  speak  plainly  for  the  broad 
spirit  which  this  war  is  engendering.  Perhaps  for  that 
reason,  chaplains  are  in  demand  everywhere,  though  they 
used  to  be  reckoned  by  army  and  navy,  to  be  quite  frank, 
very  largely  as  a  nuisance.  So  much  are  they  needed, 
and  wanted,  that  the  government  has  sent  out  an  appeal 
for  ministers  of  any  faith  to  apply,  and  a  school  has  been 
established  at  Fort  Zachary  Taylor  to  train  chaplains.  It 
will  be  readily  seen  that  only  clergymen  who  long  for  the 
work  will  resign  their  charges  to  accept  a  uniform  and 
thirty-three  dollars  a  month,  first  class  private's  pay,  while 
they  begin  a  hard  day's  work  at  a  quarter  of  six  in  the 
morning.  They  drill  an  hour  as  infantry,  an  hour  as 
cavalry,  take  concentrated  doses  of  instruction  in  sanita- 
tion, first-aid,  military  and  international  law  and  courts- 
martial,  for  part  of  a  chaplain's  duty  is  to  visit  guard- 
houses and  to  represent  their  charges  as  council  at  trials. 
When  graduated,  they  receive  mileage  to  their  homes,  and 
when  appointed  to  regiments  are  rated  First-Lieutenants. 

Now  that  a  great  revival  of  faith  in  God  is  sweeping 
the  world,  though  it  would  seem  that  faith  would  falter, 
if  not  fail,  amid  the  horrors  of  this  war,  the  chaplain's 
road  strikes  straight  to  the  Front,  and  the  man  has  be- 
come a  minister. 

*********          * 

Jewish  activities  are  under  direction  of  the  Jewish 
Welfare  Board  with  headquarters  in  New  York,  which 
prepares  its  workers  in  two  schools  for  service.  The 
first  course  is  well  stated  by  themselves: 

"It  begins  with  the  President's  message  to  Congress, 
outlining  the  reasons  for  American's  participation  in  the 
war,  and  the  ideals  for  which  America  is  fighting.  The 
fact  that  the  Jewish  religion  has  never  taught  non-resist- 
ance to  the  forces  of  evil,  and  that  the  Old  Testament 
teachings  are  strongly  in  favor  of  fighting  for  a  righteous 
cause,  is  impressed  on  the  Field  Workers  and  through 


CAMP   LEWIS  451 

them  upon  the  men  in  the  ranks.  Furthermore,  the  course 
familiarizes  the  workers  with  the  organization  of  the 
Army  and  Navy,  and  provides  them  with  the  information 
needed  to  answer  questions  raised  by  conscientious  object- 
ors and  by  those  who  would  give  heed  to  peace  propaganda. 
The  Draft  Law  is  carefully  explained,  together  with  the 
Insurance  Law  as  it  affects  soldiers  and  families  of  sol- 
diers. Other  lectures  provide  information  on  the  organiza- 
tion and  activities  of  the  Commission  on  Training  Camp 
Activities,  the  Red  Cross,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  the  K.  of  C. 
and  other  agencies  with  whpm  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board 
workers  are  required  to  maintain  the  closest  and  most 
cordial  relations. 

After  this  a  course  of  four  weeks'  practical  training 
at  Camp  Upton  proves  whether  they  are  suited  for  ap- 
pointment. These  field  workers  conduct  services,  includ- 
ing a  daily  service;  the  educational  work,  which  includes 
English  to  foreigners  or  the  illiterate,  American  History 
and  Civics,  French,  Social  Affairs  etc.  Mr.  Eimon  Wiener 
was  Field  Representative  at  Camp  Lewis  until  Spring, 
when  E.  N.  Saulson  of  Detroit  took  his  place,  with  head- 
quarters in  the  Depot  Brigade.  The  next  Division  will 
have  a  fine  building,  to  be  erected  near  Liberty  Gate. 
Nathan  Eckstein,  president  of  the  Northwest  Branch  of 
the  Welfare  Board  has  been  progressive  in  all  this. 

The  first  Jewish  Chaplain  at  Camp  Lewis  was  Lieut. 
Louis  D.  Egelson,  appointed  to  serve  "at  large"  and  who 
went  to  France  with  the  91st  Division.  Born  in  Rochester, 
educated  in  New  York  City,  he  took  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Arts  from  the  College  of  the  City  of  New  York,  1904, 
Master  of  Arts,  Columbia  University,  1907,  and  of  Rabbi 
from  the  Jewish  Theological  Seminary  of  America,  1908. 
He  served  as  Rabbi  at  Washington,  D.  C.  and  then  became 
Assistant  Director  of  Synagogue  Extension  of  the  Union 
of  American  Hebrew  Congregations.  He  was  organizing 
congregations  and  religious  schools  on  the  Pacific  Coast 
when  called  to  the  service.  He  was  commissioned  in  San 
Francisco  and  came  to  Camp  Lewis  in  March,  1918. 

It  is  one  of  the  home-iest  places  in  camp,  this  Jewish 
Assembly  Hall,  for  the  large  room  has  been  "grouped" 


452 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


LIEUT.  LOUIS  D.   EGELSON 

into  smaller  rooms,  scattered  with  rugs,  big  wicker  rock- 
ing chairs  and  plenty  of  tables.  Until  one  lives  in  a  can- 
tonment, he  never  thinks  how  tables  and  rockers  are 
missed.  There  are  pictures  upon  the  walls  and  hanging 
baskets,  and  a  reading  corner,  for  this  is  a  branch  of 
Liberty  Library.  There  is  a  handsome  clock  upon  a  shelf 
which  holds  jars  of  tobacco  from  which  any  man  may 
fill  his  pipe.  Cigars  and  cigarettes  are  passed  about,  or 
candy,  cakes,  tea,  it  is  quite  like  dropping  in  at  a  friend's, 
for  there  is  an  atmosphere  of  good  fellowship  about  the 
place  that  attracts  others  than  Jews,  especially  those  of 
the  Officers  Training  Camp  hard  by.  Nothing  is  sold  in 
the  building,  nor  was  anything  bought  for  it.  Friends 


CAMP  LEWIS 


453 


§  31 


454  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

furnished  it;  some  send  cigars  and  cigarettes  in  large 
quantities  monthly,  and  every  week  boxes  of  cake  come 
from  nearby  cities.  Every  Wednesday  also  come  a  group  of 
young  women  to  mend  for  the  soldiers  at  Welfare  House, 
to  visit  their  sick  and  those  of  others  at  the  Hospital,  and 
to  take  dainties — Welfare  House,  that's  a  beautiful  name. 

When  Jewish  recruits  arrive  they  are  welcomed  here, 
and  every  one  receives  a  comfort  kit,  a  "housewife"  with 
toilet  articles  etc.,  and  upon  leaving,  a  farewell  box  con- 
taining various  essentials  to  comfort  upon  a  trip,  hand- 
kerchiefs, tooth  paste,  shaving  cream,  two  packages  of 
cigarettes  beside  "the  makings",  a  corncob  pipe,  nuts, 
raisins,  candy,  and  fruit  cake  which  will  keep  as  loner  as 
a  man's  patience  will  allow  him  to  wait  for  it.  Great 
cases  of  these  farewell  boxes  were  despatched  from  home 
towns  to  this  hall  when  the  Ninety-First  went  Across. 

Over  in  the  corner,  in  Chaplain  Egelson's  desk,  is  a 
box  containing  cards  in  three  colors,  indexed;  alphabetic- 
ally, according  to  camp  organizations,  and  according  to 
home  towns.  In  this  way  Chaplain  Egelson  knows  every 
Jew  in  the  cantonment  and  can  "keep  track  of  the  boys." 
That  box  went  with  him  to  France  and  will  mean  much 
to  the  Home  People.  It  was  an  original  idea,  so  was  the 
naming  of  the  Jewish  Headquarters  that  its  initials  should 
spell  the  Hebrew  name  for  God,  Jah. 

Jews  have  always  beautifully  blended  home  and  church 
life.  They  have  a  deeply  interesting  custom  of  honoring, 
with  an  annual  memorial  service,  the  day  of  a  parent's 
death,  no  matter  how  many  the  years  which  have  passed. 
No  true  Jew  ever  fails  to  say  Kaddish,  and  many  observe 
the  death  anniversary  of  any  member  of  the  family.  Such 
a  service  may  only  be  read  before  a  "congregation"  which, 
ritually,  must  include  at  least  ten  males.  So  Mr.  Saulson, 
in  charge  of  Welfare  House,  has  broadened  the  scope  of  the 
card  index  by  the  addition  of  lists  of  the  dates  of  these  per- 
sonal memory  days  for  all  Jewish  soldiers,  and  very  care- 
fully looks  them  through  every  week.  He  never  fails — and 
he  is  in  entire  charge  at  present,  working  early  and  late,  in 
camp,  in  Tacoma,  and  in  the  district — he  never  fails  to 
have  ten  men  present  for  the  precious  service. 


CAMP  LEWIS  455 

Khaki-bound  copies  of  portions  of  the  Scriptures  con- 
tain, for  one  book,  Proverbs,  for  whose  pregnant  wit  the 
ancient  Jews  were  noted,  even  among  other  Orientalists, 
who  always  excelled  in  this  fascinating  form  of  terse  litera- 
ture. Also  bound  in  khaki  are  the  beautiful  prayers  of  the 
Jewish  ritual  printed  from  back  to  front,  Hebrew  upon 
one  page,  English  opposite.  Commenting  upon  this  to 
Lieut.  Jacob  Goldstein  of  the  Depot  Brigade,  he  remarked 
that  at  camp  many  read  one  as  easily  as  the  other.  As 
for  himself,  the  family  tutor  taught  him  and  his  brothers 
to  read  both  at  the  same  time.  The  Latin  classics  he 
acquired  at  the  University  of  Syracuse.  No  other  people 
within  our  borders  are  such  fine  linguists  as  Hebrews,  who 
commonly  know  four  and  five  languages;  their  educated 
classes  often  speak  more.  One  at  Camp  Lewis  grammatic- 
ally and  fluently  converses  in  eleven,  including  Arabic, 
Turkish  and  Rumanian.  This  is  so  well  known  that  if 
an  interpreter  is  needed,  the  Jewish  Welfare  House  is 
likely  appealed  to,  and  Mr.  Saulson  has  added  another 
valuable  card  index  by  listing  twenty-seven  languages 
which  men  of  his  faith  speak.  These  are  upon  separate 
cards  so  that,  for  instance,  if  Bulgarian  is  needed,  he  has 
but  to  turn  to  the  card  so  headed  and  find  upon  it  the  names 
of  all  Jewish  men  who  speak  that  language.  If  one  sol- 
dier cannot  be  found,  another  may.  It  is  astonishing 
upon  how  many  of  those  cards  the  same  names  appear. 

Within  the  book  are  a  "Prayer  for  the  Government," 
America,  Hail  Columbia,  and  The  Star  Spangled  Banner. 
By  the  way,  do  you  know  that  a  new  flag  flies,  new  to 
Today,  but  the  oldest  in  all  the  world,  the  flag  of  David? 
Its  field  is  of  white,  with  a  double  triangle  of  blue,  form- 
ing a  star  and  called  the  shield  of  David,  in  the  center, 
and  a  horizontal  stripe  of  horizon  blue  at  each  side.  It 
is  long  indeed  since  that  flag  has  streamed  toward  the 
blue  and  white  of  the  sky,  and  it  beckons  its  people  to- 
ward a  new  hope. 

Jews  readily  enlisted,  at  first  in  the  British  army, 
and  when  we  entered  the  war,  in  ours.  There  are  8000 
in  the  Palestine  Legion,  composed  entirely  of  American  and 


456  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

English  Jews  fighting  under  the  Jewish  and  British  flags 
for  the  restoration  of  the  ancient  Fatherland.  Ail  who 
survive  of  these  men  will  make  their  homes  in  Palestine. 
They  have  already  adopted  the  Hebrew  language.  This 
Palestine  Legion  is  commanded  by  Col.  Patterson — whose 
famous  mule  regiment  saved  the  situation  in  the  East  in 
the  early  part  of  the  war.  All  officers  except  the  Colonel 
are  Jews. 

An  army  of  10,000  is  now  being  raised  in  America  and 
England,  recruiting  from  Jews  who  are  not  as  yet  citi- 
zens of  this  country. 

Jews  have  raised  much  money  and  have  entered  en- 
thusiastically into  all  war  activities.  Reasons  for  this  en- 
thusiasm are  inherent.  The  United  States  is  the  only 
country  which  from  the  first  has  afforded  them  all  the 
rights  and  privileges  of  other  citizens,  yet  it  is  not  grati- 
tude alone  which  rallies  them  to  her  flag.  Were  Germany 
victorious,  Russia,  Poland,  Turkey,  Palestine,  Mesopotamia 
absorbed,  Jews  would  suffer  martyrdom  as  of  old;  but 
with  victory  to  the  Allies,  Great  Britain  has  promised  the 
establishment  in  Palestine  of  a  Jewish  center  which  might 
develope  into  a  Republic  as  pure  as  that  which  Jews  real- 
ized, for  many  centuries,  before  any  other  was  even 
dreamed  of,  for  theirs  was  the  first  democracy  recorded 
in  history.  Four  thousand  years  ago  it  shone  out  from 
the  darkness:  think,  forty  centuries  before  again  it  be- 
came necessary  to  wage  this  war  "to  make  the  world  safe 
for  democracy,"  safe  from  a  people  reverted  to  the  type, 
the  savage. 

As  for  the  sacred  land  itself,  what  of  the  Hun  in  Pal- 
estine could  be  predicted  from  one  act  of  the  Kaiser,  who 
ordered  an  ancient  moat  filled  to  make  an  unnecessary 
new  road  for  his  conquering  vandal  feet.  How  different, 
how  wonderfully  different,  when  the  British  General 
Allenby  took  Jerusalem  and,  halting  his  victorious  troops 
without,  with  a  little  group  of  his  officers  entered  with- 
out fanfare,  and  passed  through  the  ancient  Gateway  of 
the  Friend  into  the  Holy  City.  That  is  its  beautiful  name, 
many  centuries  old,  and  this  was  surely  the  advent  of  a 


CAMP   LEWIS  457 

great  friend,  whose  first  greeting  was  a  proclamation  that 
all  people  within  the  city,  of  any  race  and  any  creed, 
were  safe,  and  should  be  protected  by  the  victors.  Of 
that  historic  entrance  Helen  Gray  Cone  wrote  this  ex- 
quisite verse: 

When  through  the  gateway  that  men  call  The  Friend 
Passed  quietly  in  the  little  English  guard,— r- 

Broivn  soldiers,  battle-scared,— 
A  mystic  Presence  all  unseen,  unknown, 
His  age-long  weary  wandering  at  an  end, 
Gray  Israel  returned  unto  his  own! 

Elsewhere  is  noted  the  strange  connection  between 
Camp  Lewis  and  the  taking  of  Jerusalem,  so  that  all  Jews, 
and  especially  those  of  this  cantonment,  feel  the  keenest 
interest  in  Capt.  Oldenborg  of  the  91st  Division.  By  the 
way,  a  brother  of  Capt.  Welty,  is  in  Mesopotamia,  having 
gone  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  with  the  British  as  a 
Y-man,  and  been  on  the  firing  line  ever  since.  Somehow 
one  never  thinks  of  anyone's  living  in  Mesopotamia  today. 
Here's  another  connection.  Mesopotamia  was  the  original 
home  of  the  Jews.  In  the  dawn  of  history,  Abraham 
emigrated  from  that  country  to  Palestine. 

When,  July  17,  the  Fast  of  Av,  the  Black  Day,  is 
commemorated  at  the  Jewish  Assembly  Hall,  the  men  who 
have  hitherto  gathered  there  will  be  upon  the  sea,  near- 
ing  the  Titanic  struggle  which  will  restore  to  them  that 
Jerusalem  whose  destruction,  2504  years  ago,  the  Fast 
mourns.  Maybe  by  next  Av,  they  will  be  entering  Jeru- 
Salem,  their  City  of  Peace,  after  many  centuries  of 
wandering  and  suffering.  What  a  marvelous  Home-coming, 
a  Nation's,  and  that  People  the  oldest  existent!  To 
that  Home-coming,  a  Toast,  drunk  from  the  clear  waters 

of  American  Lake,  "Next  year  in  Jerusalem!" 

*********  * 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  work  at  Camp 
Lewis  has  already  been  noted,  but  should  be  further  re- 
ferred to  in  this  chapter  devoted  to  religious  activities. 
The  Huts  are  always  short-handed,  and  to  speak  of  in- 
dividuals is  like  counting  chickens  in  the  open.  One  man, 


THE   NINETY-FIRST 


however,  is  so  closely  identified  with  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  work 
at  Camp  Lewis  that  A.  M.  Grilley  naturally  comes  into 
the  mind  when  it  is  spoken  of.  A  Westerner,  Kansan,  he 
has  been  for  many  years  identified  with  that  work  in 
Portland.  He  is  another  man  who  can  laugh;  people  like 
to  have  him  around.  He  it  was  who  thought  of  supplying 
soldiers  with  baseball  for  noons,  for  the  trenches,  and, 
when  the  draft  came  in  before  the  Ninety-First  vacated 
barracks,  "rustled  Y.  M.'s  for  haysheds"  and  every  other 
available  place  to  keep  the  newcomers  from  being  home- 
sick. He,  too,  first  sent  Y.  M.'s  two-hundred  miles  down 
the  road  to  meet  drafted  men's  trains  and  come  in  with 
them.  That,  up  to  this  writing,  was  done  by  no  other 
cantonment.  In  other  words,  "Grilley's  alive," 


CAMP  LEWIS  459 

Twenty  a  month  is  their  quota  overseas,  so  that  there 
is  scarcely  a  man  at  Camp  Lewis  who  was  there  in  the 
Fall,  and  the  call  is  constant  for  volunteers  to  the  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  training  schools  in  New  York,  Cambridge  and  Chi- 
cago. Graduates  wear  a  uniform  similar  to  the  army's, 
but  gray,  rank  as  sub-lieutenants,  so  to  speak,  not  allowed 
the  officer's  cap  nor  a  cord  upon  the  service  hat.  The  as- 
sociation's red  triangle  is  upon  the  sleeve.  This  symbol 
signifies  their  efforts  toward  the  development  of  the  whole 
Man — Body,  Mind,  Spirit.  The  uniform  of  the  Knights 
of  Columbus  is  similar,  with  K.  C.  on  the  sleeve,  while 
Jewish  workers  wear  the  star  within  a  circle,  "the  shield 
of  David"  on  them. 

Body:  Both  associations  have  been  right-hand  assist- 
ants to  the  Division  Athletics  Council  in  developing  re- 
cruits. Boxing  bouts  are  held  once  a  week.  Equipment 
for  it,  and  for  all  forms  of  ball  play  and  other  games,  is 
purchased  in  factory  lots.  It  is  one  of  the  wonders  of 
military  training  how  soon  men  are  toughened  by  drill  and 
wish  such  continued  violent  exercise  as  baseball.  Even 
on  hikes  soldiers  demand  gloves,  bats  and  balls,  and  Y 
secretaries  "hit  the  trail"  with  them.  This  is  one  of  the 
Compensations  for  the  war:  The  United  States  will  be 
a  nation  of  athletes,  and,  so  fathered,  mothered  by  women 
very  generally  doing  manual  work,  children  will  be  as 
strong  and  beautiful  as  those  of  ancient  Greece. 

When  the  Divisional  trenches  were  being — built?  dug? 
—men  working  in  shifts  from  sun  to  sun,  demanded  a  Y- 
Hut.  How  pretty  it  was  and  how  good  it  smelled,  fir  boughs 
and  tent.  In  the  center  a  fireplace — just  that,  a  place  for 
fire,  and  a  big  one,  piled  with  pitchy  wood  when  the  men 
came  in  shivering  from  their  digging.  It  had  an  octag- 
onal rail  of  saplings  just  high  enough  to  rest  a  fellow's 
damp  shoes  upon,  and  a  pipe  went  up  through  the  top. 
At  every  joint  of  this  rail  stood  a  post  of  small  tree  bear- 
ing a  candle,  that  one  might  read,  and  upon  every  little 
pine  desk  bounding  the  tabernacle,  stood  another,  in  an 
artistic  literal  candle-stick,  that  one  might  write — triangle 
stationery  there  a-purpose.  Also  there  was  upon  each  a 


460  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

vase  of  beautiful  wild  flowers,  which  grow  all  obout.  Now 
H.  W.  Page,  who  designed  and  engineered  that  lodge,  is 
a  remarkable  man  in  at  least  two  respects,  he  knows  that 
even  wild  flowers  cannot  look  anything  but  down  and  out 
in  a  baking-powder  can,  so  he  fitted  to  each  a  bark  jacket 
from  a  tree  whose  curves  were  those  of  the  tin  cans,  and 
the  flowers  never  suspected  they  had  left  home;  secondly, 
he  can  be,  and  was,  bright  and  good  natured  on  four 
hours'  sleep,  which  he  "takes  between-times  so  the  night 
bunch  won't  feel  neglected."  His  lowly  cot  was  curtained 
off  by  fir  boughs.  A  box  on  the  counter  enabled  men 
to  make  their  own  change  when  they  wanted  their  eternal 
candy,  gum,  tobacco  and  stamps.  Athletics  equipment  had 
been  brought  along,  and  they  were  even  planning  a  moving 
picture  projected  by  means  of  an  automobile  magneto. 

Not  having  room  for  games  in  their  Huts,  as  the  eight 
long,  one-story  brown  buildings  upon  fire  breaks  are  called, 
the  Y's  built  two  large  Play  Sheds  containing  ball  courts 
and  diamonds,  boxing  and  wrestling  rooms.  When  troops 
numbered  nearly  52,000  just  before  the  Division  went  out, 
these,  Butte  Building  and  the  K.  C.  Halls,  were  all  turned 
over  for  barracks. 

Speaking  of  moving  pictures,  airplanes  are  the  only 
place  they  are  not  carried,  and  heaven  knows  aviators 
have  theirs,  real  and  reel  beneath.  A  regular  weekly  even- 
ing is  given  to  good  moving  pictures  at  every  Hut,  free, 
of  course,  and  a  Divisional  at  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Auditorium. 
It  is  common  for  men  among  the  onlookers  "to  see  them- 
selves as  others  see  them,"  or  with  shouts  and  jokes  to 
recognize  those  "others,"  so  many  picture-men  are  at 
Camp  Lewis.  A  delightful  innovation  is  now  possible. 
Home  Folks,  if  you  will  send  clear  photographs  with  a  few 
explanatory  words  on  the  back,  to  F.  F.  Runyon,  First 
National  Bank  Building,  San  Francisco,  your  boys  will  be 
delightedly  surprised  by  seeing  a  bit  of  the  home  town, 
crowded  with  people  they  know,  an  odd  or  historical  house, 
whatever  your  locality  boasts.  The  Y.  M.  C.  A.  want  such 
pictures  from  every  place  contributing  men.  Think  of 
the  possibilities! 


CAMP  LEWIS  461 

Mind:  Camp  Lewis  is  many  a  man's  College,  a  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  Hut  his  Alma  Mater.  This  is  another  Compensation. 
As  was  said  in  the  talk  before  Hostess  House  fire,  if  wo- 
men at  home  only  keep  step  with  the  marching  men,  the 
intellectual  unlift  of  the  nation  will  endow  children  with 
brains  fit  for  strong  and  beautiful  bodies.  For  one  thing, 
we  shall  have  acquired  the  musical  speech  of  France. 
Seven  hundred  men  a  week  in  one  Hut  are  studying  it. 
Prof.  C.  L.  Helminge,  who  has  been  spared  half  the  time 
since  September  by  the  University  of  Washington,  has 
now  been  generously  loaned  entirely  to  Camp  Lewis  Uni- 
versity, in  exact  opposition  to  the  reason  the  Germans 
sent  their  professors  to  this  Country.  He  was  born  in 
Chalons,  France — center  of  terrific  fighting — and  served 
for  three  years  with  the  French  army  in  Algeria.  He  is 
teaching  all  the  officers  of  the  361st  Infantry,  one-hundred 
ten,  nearly  twice  that  number  from  the  Signal  Corps, 
more,  lately,  from  the  Presidio. 

Another  French  teacher  of  romatic  life  and  unusual 
opportunities  is  Charles  Pioda,  formerly  court  interpreter, 
Seattle.  Born  in  Switzerland,  where  his  father  had  al- 
ways been  prominent,  the  young  man  accompanied  him 
to  Italy  where  the  elder  was  for  eighteen  years  ambassador, 
and  those  years  the  unification  period.  Under  his  father, 
Pioda  was  in  charge  of  the  embassy  at  Rome  for  ten  years. 
Another  son  was  ambassador  to  the  United  States  from 
Switzerland.  Mr.  Pioda  knew  King  Humbert,  Queen 
Margharita,  and  the  present  King  Victor  when  he  was 
a  boy.  He  was  well  acquainted  also  with  King  Gustave  of 
Sweden.  He  met  the  present  Kaiser's  father,  but  never 
had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  the  present  incumbent  and 
incumbrance — though  both  Pioda  and  a  son  who  was 
injured,  had  hoped  for  that  pleasure,  having  offered  war 
services.  The  former  well  knew  Ollivier,  Napoleon  Third's 
cabinet  minister  during  the  Franco-Prussian  war, 

From  Italy  Pioda  went  to  Egypt  where  he  was  in- 
timate acquainted  with  Ismail  Pasha,  the  dethroned  vice- 
roy, and  his  successor  son,  also  "the  Gloved  Prince,"  Has- 
san, whose  palm  bore  the  hated  cross,  branded  by  Abys- 


462  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

sinians  when  a  prisoner  among  them.  He  knew  Gordon 
Pasha,  too,  and  Kitchener,  in  Egypt's  stirring  times.  As 
for  rulers  of  the  realm  of  music,  these  were  friends ;  Liszt, 
Rubinstein,  Tosti,  von  Bulow,  Wagner,  and  he  knew  Renan. 

Pioda  was  in  Spain  when  he  met  a  California  girl 
studying  abroad.  They  were  married  and  went  to  South 
America,  living  for  ten  years  in  the  A,  B,  C,  coun- 
tries, traveling  everywhere.  Why,  Pioda  needs  every  one 
of  the  several  languages  he  speaks,  and  could  fill  as  many 
more  with  stirring  and  delightful  experiences — if  only 
he  does  not  notice  he  is  telling  them.  One  would  learn 
rapidly  from  Pioda  just  to  be  able  to  hear  his  French 
thoughts. 

Yes,  the  91st  Division  has  been  fortunate  in  French 
teachers.  In  an  emergency,  Col.  Cavanaugh's  orderly 
did  so  well  that  he  will  continue  to  help,  for  Varello, 
though  an  Italian,  has  lived  in  France.  There  are  other 
instructors,  all  under  charge  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  The 
class  rooms  at  Y-Huts  are  crowded  every  evening. 

The  University  of  Washington  has  been  alive  to  Camp 
Lewis  from  the  first.  Prof.  Landes,  Department  of  Geo- 
logy and  Head  of  Survey  work,  had  a  ten-foot  square  map 
made  to  assist  Y.  M.  C.  A.  instructors  in  keeping  up  with 
the  war.  This  was  such  a  success,  that  copies  were  made. 
The  first  large  map,  however,  was  made  by  Secretary 
Coan,  whose  daily  lectures  upon  war  movements  regularly 
attracted  fully  fifteen-hundred  soldiers  during  the  Spring 
offensive,  lines  being  shifted  upon  the  map  as  battle  waged. 

In  every  cantonment,  as  part  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  War 
Activities,  a  paper,  always  called  TRENCH  AND  CAMP,  is 
published.  Again  the  Ninety-First  was  fortunate.  Its 
editor,  Chapin  D.  Foster,  was  not  only  a  newspaper  man 
of  thirteen  years'  experience,  with  what  is  inelegantly 
termed  "a  nose  for  news,"  but  one  whom  everyone  likes, 
witty  and  interesting.  He  covered  camp  personnel,  pro- 
gress, fun,  and  with  such  variety  of  real  information,  that 
TRENCH  AND  CAMP  was  eagerly  read  not  only  by  sol- 
diers, but  by  everybody  else  when  it  appeared  Sundays 
as  supplement  to  the  Tacoma  Tribune.  Of  all  copies  of 


CAMP  LEWIS 


463 


CHAPIN  D.  FOSTER 


Trench  and  Camp  published  at  different  camps  it  is 
rsurely  brightest  and  broadest.  No  sectarianism  was  al- 
lowed to  creep  into  this  paper.  All  camp  news  was  "played 
up"  in  the  same  spirit. 

Mr.  Foster,  who  had  for  several  years  been  owner 
and  publisher  of  a  paper  at  Grandview  in  the  beautiful 
Yakima  Valley,  was  eager  to  fight,  but  being  refused, 
leased  his  paper  in  January  and  came  to  Camp  Lewis  to 
accept  what  he  could  do,  and,  as  Editor  Foster,  was  really 
of  much  greater  service  in  TRENCH  AND  CAMP  than  Lieu- 
tenant Foster  could  possibly  have  been  in  camp  and  trench. 
The  author  gratefully  acknowledges  many  hints  gained 
from  TRENCH  AND  CAMP. 


464 


THE    NINETY-FIRST 


Illustrations  added  to  its  value  when  mailed  "back 
home",  as  it  very  generally  was.  Fifteen  thousand  copies 
weekly  were  placed  upon  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Hostess,  J.  C.  and 
K.  C.  counters,  where  they  were  free  to  anyone  who 
wished  them.  Some  men  regularly  mailed  them  to  a 
number  of  friends  in  various  parts  of  the  country.  In 
this  way  people  were  apprised  of  what  the  boys  were 
doing  and  what  was  being  done  for  them.  It  is  only 
fair  to  add  that  the  publication  of  TRENCH  AND  CAMP  by 
the  Tacoma  Tribune  was  very  largely  the  gift  of  its 
owner,  Mr.  Frank  S.  Baker,  who  was  one  of  the  men  in- 


fluential in  obtaining  the  acceptance  of  the  cantonment. 
Several  hundred  dollars  a  month,  beyond  part  expense 
covered  by  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  was 
Mr.  Baker's  quiet  contribution  toward  the  war.  He  is 
not  aware  that  this  is  mentioned  in  these  pages,  nor  even 
known;  mayhap  would  not  wish  it,  but  soldiers  will  like 
to  know  that  he  cared  that  much. 

This  is  the  new  Headquarters  Building  where  camp 
secretary  A.  M.  Grilley  and  financial  secretary  Wilson 
have  their  offices,  with  other  general  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
workers,  and  Editor  Foster.  There  also  is  a  happy-faced, 


CAMP  LEWIS  465 

efficient  stenographer  and  typist,  crippled  as  to  body  but 
whole  of  heart  and  brain,  who  gladly  serves  his  country 
in  the  only  way  he  can,  and  by  his  good  cheer  unwittingly 
reproves  those  of  us  who  will  not  answer  our  own  prayer, 
"Lord,  make  me  willing  to  run  on  little  errands." 

Y-secretary  Morth,  formerly  a  Yakima  lawyer,  has 
given  soldiers  legal  advice  and  assisted  several  in  making 
their  wills,  free,  of  course. 


And  how  the  world  has  changed  when  dancing  is  a 
Such!  Think  of  an  internationally  known  solo  dancer 
doing  his  bit  at  a  Y  entertainment;  another,  listening  to 
a  phonograph,  making  shorthand — or  would  you  say  short 
foot-notes?  upon  triangle  paper,  composing  a  new  dance 
for  "stunt  night",  which  is  a  regular  weekly  institution. 
A  sign  in  a  Y-Hut  urges  every  man  to  register  what  he 
is  good  for,  and  surely  there  remains  nothing  new.  The 
Y  has  thought  out  a  new  service,  however,  which  is  clear- 
ing the  dazed  look  from  many  a  visitor's  face,  the  in- 
formation booth  near  the  bus  station. 

As  to  musicians,  writers,  lecturers,  who  have  appeared 
at  the  Huts,  is  it  not  pleasant  to  meet  people  like,  for  in- 
stance, Fred  Emerson  Brooks,  poet,  author  of  many  books, 
inimitable  story-teller,  albeit  as  genial  and  witty  upon  the 
floor  as  he  is  upon  the  platform,  which  cannot  be  said  of 
most  celebrities.  And  that  is  a  strong  advantage  in  hear- 
ing such  at  Camp  Lewis,  they  are  working  for  love,  love 
of  country,  love  of  its  men.  They  are  at  their  souls'  best, 
as  they  would  be  in  books.  Lord  Bacon  was  "the  wisest, 
brightest,  meanest  of  mankind,"  so  we  are  really  fortunate 
in  knowing  him  only  at  his  wisest  and  brightest,  with  no 
hint  of  meanest,  in  his  works.  Some  of  the  inspiration  of 
"Pickett's  Charge  at  Gettysburg"  will  go  with  the  grand- 
sons of  the  men  who  made  it — will  it  not,  Ninety-First? — 
into  their  charge  upon  the  Huns.  Would  Brooks  might  be 
there  to  immortalize  you ! 


466  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

Y-2  featured  a  series  of  evenings  devoted  to  repre- 
sentative entertainments  by  and  for  the  men  of  allied 
nations  who  were  in  camp,  and  in  this  way  accumulated 
a  number  of  handsome  presentation  flags.  Y-8  is  the 
newest  of  the  Huts,  and  like  the  youngest  child  is  best 
provided  for,  though  that  may  be  because  Secretaries 
Oliver  of  Los  Angeles  and  Cameron  of  Anaconda  were  so 
popular  at  home.  If  there  is  anything  a  soldier  does 
enjoy  it  is  a  rocking  chair,  he  need  not  fight  for  one  here. 
There  are  dozens  of  flags,  and  curtains;  and  shades,  first 
at  camp,  and  piles  of  music,  and  from  the  evening  Col. 
Saville  opened  it,  the  Trains  have  made  it  their  Depot. 
They  even  had  a  wedding  there  just  before  the  Military 
Police  started  for  France,  when  A.  Z.  Taft  qualified  for 
writing  Margaret  Winkelman's  name  as  war  bride.  The 
favorite  Hut  for  weddings,  however,  was  Y-l  where  four 

couples  were  married  in  one  week. 

*         *         *         *         *         *         *         *         *         * 

Spirit — but  the  true  man  is  indivisible.  One  of  the 
Y.  M.'s  expressed  it  about  the  weekly  religious  evening. 
"Of  course;  but  we  aim  at  that  every  night,  according  to 
its  kind."  Saturday  brings  Quiet  Night;  then,  if  your 
Boy  is  not  taking  his  holiday  in  town,  he  is  re-reading 
your  letters  and  answering  them,  looking  furtively,  or 
straight-forwardly,  at  your  picture — you  know  which — 
and  thinking,  with  all  his  heart,  of  home.  And  if  it  is 
a  real  home,  that  will  be  his  religious  night,  and  he  will 
smile  up  at  the  motto  on  the  wall  which  says  ''Let's  be 
what  they  think  we  are,"  a  smile  which  answers,  just 
as  if  he  were  two-foot-six  instead  of  six-foot-two,  "Let's" 

There  is  much  of  good  literature  given  away  at  Y- 
Huts  beside  Testaments,  separately-bound  copies  of  Psalms, 
St.  John  etc.,  and  of  a  size  to  slip  into  the  uniform  pocket. 
Also  women  sent  out  thousands  of  card  copies  of  your  own 
Ninety-First  Psalm  which  you  will  find  herein.  One  boy 
said  decidedly,  in  the  language  of  the  day,  "Look  what 
this  opened  to  on  its  own,  Five  of  you  shall  chase  an 
hundred,  and  one  hundred  shall  put  ten-thousand  to  flight. 
Me  for  the  Book,  and  Us  for  the  Huns."  In  Spring  the 


CAMP  LEWIS  467 

Y.  M.  C.  A.'s  conducted  a  Bible  Drive,  issuing  cards  for 
signature  tp  promise  to  read  the  Bible  throughout  the 
war.  One  young  fellow,  and  he  had  been  a  prize  fighter  too, 
said  with  a  comical  mixture  of  seriousness  and  fun: 

"//  the  Bible's  good  tactics  for  General  G, 
"It's  mighty  good  tactics  for  Corporal  C, — 

come  on  boys,  right  by  fours,"  and  his  squad  signed  with 
him.  The  card  bore  these  words  of  a  good  fighter,  Gen. 
U.  S.  Grant: 

"Hold  fast  to  the  Bible  as  the  sheet-anchor  of  our 
liberties;  write  its  precepts  on  your  hearts  and  practice 
them  in  your  lives.  To  the  influence  of  this  book  we  are 
indebted  for  the  progress  made  in  true  civilization,  and 
to  this  we  must  look  as  our  guide  in  the  future." 

One  of  the  signers  said  he  did  not  need  the  book  for, 
on  November  12,  1917,  his  mother  had  given  him  the 
Testament  presented  to  her  father  November  12,  1862. 
So  Corporal  Kennedy  of  the  316th  Engineers  will  carry 
through  this  war  the  little  Book  which  his  grandfather 
carried  throughout  the  Civil  War,  perhaps  under  Grant 
himself. 

Chaplains,  K.  C.'s,  and  Y.  M.  C.  A's  united  in  provid- 
ing every  man's  place  at  breakfast,  Christmas  and  Easter 
mornings,  with  suitable  cards,  the  first,  doubtless,  that 
many  men  had  ever  had  to  welcome  those  Holidays,  and 
the  Jews  joined  them  with  pretty  cards  for  Mothers'  Day. 

At  first  recruits  had  been  welcomed  at  the  gate,  after- 
ward incoming  draft  trains  were  met  a  day  away,  and 
the  Y.  M.'s  "went  a  piece  down  the  road"  when  the  sol- 
diers left  for  other  camps;  but  when  the  Division  started 
for  France,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  had  a  khaki-colored  card  for 
each  with  Bon  Voyage  upon  it  and  Gen.  Pershing's  words, 
"Let  ypur  valor  as  a  soldier  and  your  conduct  as  a  man, 
be  an  inspiration  to  your  comrades  and  an  honor  to  your 
country." 


468  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

Hrfo  (ErafiB  iHUitarij  SJrltrf  Uurraii  at  (Slamp 

In  appropriate  proximity  to  Hostess  House  and  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  Headquarters,  midway  stands 
a  small  building  representing  a  big  work,  and  bearing  upon 
its  walls  a  Red  Cross.  In  fact  the  work  grew  so  fast  that 
the  building  had  to  extend,  and  a  small  warehouse  now 
adjoins  it.  This  is  the  Camp  Lewis  Bureau  for  Military 
Relief  and  if  there  is  anything  all  other  organizations  does 
not  accomplish  for  the  relief  of  soldiers  and  their  families, 
it  is  covered  by  this  Red  Cross  bureau,  which  might  be 
called  the  Relief  Quartermaster  Department.  A  special 
bulletin  issued  by  Gen.  Foltz,  commanding,  is  worth  re- 
printing in  entirety,  because  succinctly  stating  its  province, 
under  Field  Director  Arthur  Pritchard,  of  Tacoma: 

"To  give  emergency  financial  aid  if  it  will  relieve  distress  in 
your  family. 

"To  make  sure  that  competent  legal  or  medical  aid,  or  both,  is 
given  to  your  family  if  their  necessities  call  for  either. 

"In  other  words,  to  relieve  your  anxiety  about  your  beloved  ones 
and  to  provide  emergency  relief. 

"It  is  expected  that  your  family  will  assist  themselves  in  every 
way  possible  before  application  is  made  to  the  Red  Cross. 

"Applications  for  assistance  should  be  made  by  the  soldier  in 
either  of  two  ways: 

"Direct  to  his  company  commander,  who  should  take  up  the  mat- 
ter with  the  field  director  at  the  Red  Cross  building,  1st  avenue 
north  and  East  Way,  or 

"Direct  to  the  field  director  of  the  Red  Cross,  1st  avenue  north 
and  East  Way. 

"The  American  Red  Cross  society  desires  to  furnish  one  woolen 
sweater  and  two  pairs  of  woolen  socks  to  all  members  of  this  com- 
mand who  need  them.  These  articles  are  to  be  issued  to  each  regi- 
ment as  part  of  the  regimental  equipment  and  not  as  the  personal 
property  of  the  soldier,  so  that  when  a  man  is  separated  from  the 
service  these  articles  should  remain  with  the  regiment  for  reissue. 

"Regimental  and  separate  organization  commanders  will  submit 
to  this  office  before  noon  Monday,  January  28,  1918,  a  requisition  of 
the  number  of  sweaters  and  socks  needed  completely  to  equip  their 
organization." 

W.  R.  Van  Valen  and  his  wife  are  resident  managers 
of  this  work.  The  former  is  bonded  and  every  article 
passing  through  their  hands  is  accounted  for  and  monthly 
statements  made  of  all  activities.  Mrs.  Van  Valen  is  a 


CAMP  LEWIS  469 

host  in  herself,  for  it  is  just  the  work  she  loves,  and 
for  which  she  is  therefore  fitted.  She  does  not  furnish 
relief  more  bitter  than  lack,  bruising  feelings  already 
black  and  blue,  as  some  self-important  Red  Cross  workers 
have  done,  but  shows  an  inventiveness,  a  ready  sympathy 
and  understanding  that  are  themselves  comfort  and  help. 

Early  in  the  year,  much  of  the  assistance  given  by 
the  camp  Red  Cross  was  necessary  because  of  the  de- 
layed allotments,  which  occasioned  not  only  actualy  suf- 
fering in  the  families  of  soldiers,  but  rendered  the  sol- 
diers themselves  almost  worthless  from  worry.  The  worst 
of  it  was  that  it  was  so  needless  in  a  great  rich  country 
like  ours,  with  its  billions  of  subscribed  moneys..  To  some 
families  the  delay  was  not  only  embarrassing  but  humil- 
iating, and  they  would  not  tell  of  it.  One  woman  of  cul- 
ture and  family,  was  about  to  be  turned  into  the  street 
when  the  Red  Cross  at  camp  stepped  in  and  saved  not 
her  alone,  but  our  army,  from  such  disgrace.  All  such 
were  instantly  relieved,  and  without  publicity  or  the  bind- 
ing of  red  tape  which  ties  up  so  much  so-called  Charity 
work,  which,  indeed,  is  not  Charity,  either  in  its  sense  of 
Love,  or  its  non-sense  of  injustice,  but  simply  gives  some- 
body who  has  no  other  chance  to  attract  the  public  eye, 
or  to  climb  a  rung  higher  upon  a  society  ladder,  a  chance 
to  perform. 

In  one  month  there  were  150  consultations  with  sol- 
diers, relative  to  many  things.  Free  medical  attention 
was  secured  for  their  families,  three  operations  per- 
formed without  expense,  etc.  All  this  is  as  it  should  be, 
only  justice,  not  that  hated  Charity,  which  I,  for  one, 
would  rather  die  than  accept.  In  time  to  come,  all  medi- 
cal aid  will  be  afforded  a  nation  by  taxes,  I  firmly  believe. 
It  is  to  a  Country's  self-interest  that  all  its  people  should 
be  healthy,  whole,  and  efficient. 

The  importance  of  having  a  woman,  and  a  sympathetic 
woman,  in  connection  with  Red  Cross  work  at  Camp 
Lewis  was  several  times  seen  when  women  visited  camp 
or  came  to  ask  for  help  in  the  life-crisis  which  women, 
some  scarcely  more  than  children,  must  meet,  each  for 
§  32 


470  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

Legal  advice  was  furnished  several,  and  if  necessity 
demanded,  the  telegraph  speeded  decision.  The  Red  Cros- 
even  took  charge  of  the  household  belongings  of  a  young 
Lieutenant  who  was  suddenly  ordered  away  and  whose 
little  home  was  near  camp.  He  handed  the  assistant- 
director  the  house  key,  told  him  the  price  asked,  and  left. 
Another  Lieutenant  and  his  wife  moved  in  and  paid  the 
money  to  the  Red  Cross  worker. 

Thousands  and  thousands  of  sweaters,  socks  etc.,  have 
been  carefully  distributed  by  this  Red  Cross  bureau  at 
camp.  These  came  in  hundreds  of  packing  boxes  which 
so  crowded  the  warehouse,  that  a  larger  had  to  be  built. 
At  the  Country  Club,  army  men's  wives  worked  almost 
as  many  hours  as  their  husbands,  upon  knitting  and  surgi- 
cal dressings.  Mrs.  John  H.  Leavel,  wife  of  Capt.  Leavell 
of  the  316th  Engineers,  and  Capt.  Harmon  Bonte's  wife 
of  the  same  Corps,  were  workers  two  whole  days  in  a 
week,  and  the  former  took  charge  of  classes. 

Space  was  arranged  at  the  Red  Cross  camp  bureau  for 
many  women  who  came  to  mend  sweaters,  also.  This,  as 
every  woman  knows,  is  a  difficult  thing  to  do,  and  a  tire- 
some; but  many  expensive  sweaters  were  thus  saved, 
woolen  socks  darned,  and  the  like. 

Yes,  men,  women  and  children  are  enthusiastic  over 
the  Camp  Lewis  Red  Cross  Bureau.  This  co-operative 
spirit  of  genuine  helpfulness  is  a  great  Compensation  for 
the  war,  and  will  last  over  into  the  great  peace  which  will 
follow.  Men  at  camp  have  contributed  much  to  its  stores. 
A  sewing  machine,  in  recognition  of  the  sewing  the  Red 
Cross  does  for  them,  was  one  much  appreciated  gift.  As 
for  children,  they  are  natural  enthusiasts  which  the  world 
has  not  spoiled.  Boys  have  made  packing  boxes,  and 
girls  towels  and  gun  wipers  and  wash  clothes  and — oh, 
everything.  Four  large  boxes  of  tobacco  at  one  time  were 
presented,  boxes  of  figs,  whole  cases  of  gum,  boxes  of 
raisins.  An  odd  but  useful  gift  was  twenty-three  flash- 
lights. One  hundred  invalid  chairs  were  presented.  Over 
1500  pints  of  home-made  jelly  were  sent  from  Red  Cross 
organizations  in  Salt  Lake,  for  hospital  patients  at  camp. 


CAMP  LEWIS  471 

But,  when  Filipinos  have  a  Red  Cross  parade  in  Manila, 
and  men,  women  and  children,  lepers,  on  Molokai,  give 
$248  for  Red  Cross  work,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that 
peoples,  great  and  small,  of  all  colors  and  religions,  of 
all  social  ranks  and  attainments,  group  themselves  at  the 
four  quarters  of  the  earth  upon  the  great,  square, 

RED  CROSS 


472  THE    NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

ONE  MAN  LIKES  "WILD  WEST"  FOR  DIVISION  NICKNAME— 
CAPT.  JACKSON  AND  ROBERT  MORRIS — CAPT.  RAEDER— 
IMPORTANCE  OF  VETERINARY  CORPS —  ANIMAL  OPERATING 
ROOMS  AND  HOSPITAL — PROCESS  OF  HORSE  TRAINING- 
PURCHASING  POINT,  FORT  KEOGH,  LT.  COL.  WINTERBURN 
— HORSE-SHOERS',  SADDLERS',  AND  PACKING  SCHOOLS- 
REMOUNT  ASSEMBLY  HALL — COWBOY  RUSSELL'S  GIFT 
AND  LETTER — FIRST  AND  LAST  REMOUNT  EXHIBITIONS- 
FAMOUS  RIDERS —  EXPERT  FARM  HANDS — A  BIRTHDAY 
REMOUNT  PARTY. 

While  Gen.  Greene  was  in  France,  the  nickname  Wild 
West  Division  was  "wished  on"  the  Ninety-First.  Upon 
his  return,  asked  if  he  liked  it,  he  emphatically  answered, 
"I  do  not."  Most  people  agree  with  him,  but  Capt.  Jack- 
son answered  quite  as  emphatically,  "I  do."  He  went  on 
to  say  that  men  of  this  Division  are  unusually  husky,  with 
the  rush  and  enthusiasm  of  the  West,  young,  eager  for 
the  war;  that  he  thought  that  the  moral  effect  upon  Ger- 
man ranks,  hearing  them  so  heralded,  would  be  incalcul- 
able. They  would  fear  Wild  Westerners,  picturing  them 
bristling  with  Bowie  knives,  their  "hip  pockets  built  for 
quarts,"  drawing  seven-shooters  if  coffee  was  weak,  wear- 
ing neckerchiefs  like  that  eternal  Hart's,  with  the  rest  of 
the  wild-and-woolly  of  the  moving  picture  West.  They 
would  expect  whole  Companies  of  painted  Indians,  toma- 
hawk in  hand,  ready  to  scalp  German  prisoners,  to  wreck 
upon  them  tortures  more  exquisite  than  the  Huns  have 
visited  upon  their  captives.  Yes,  Wild  West,  and  a  yell 
to  go  with  it. 

"There's  much  in  a  name,"  said  he,  "witness  the 
Death's  Head  Hussars,  and  Roosevelt.  Why,  his  very 


CAMP  LEWIS  473 

name  is  worth  a  thousand  men  to  any  regiment  in  France." 
Capt.  Jackson  and  the  doughty  ex-President  are  old  friends. 

This  was  a  new  view.  I  myself  notice  names,  as  you 
may  have  guessed.  At  any  rate,  if  there  is  any  place  in 
the  cantonment  where  Wild  West  applies,  it  is  to  the 
Auxiliary  Remount,  for  there,  approached  by  a  broad 
prairie  for  a  road,  fenced  in  only  by  the  virgin  forest,  is 
all  that  remains  of  what  is  meant  by  the  West. 

The  West— 

great  snow-clad  mountains  and  milky  falls,  broad-rushing 
streams  fertilizing  empires,  forests  so  high,  so  dense,  that 
the  sun  is  lost  within;  ranches  wider  than  principalities — 
these  remain;  but  of  the  old  free  life,  the  generous  help- 
fulness, the  broad,  warm  neighborliness,  what?  In  the 
city  hard  by,  with  its  narrowness  and  lack  of  interest,  its 
petty  greed,  its  fear  of  one  another's  schemes  and  scorn 
of  poverty,  nothing;  but  in  this  Remount,  peopled  by  men 
who  have  lived  widely  and  feared  none,  who  are  the  real 
West,  much. 

Here  are  men  who  have  done  things,  who  have 
sacrificed  big  interests,  left  their  broad  acres  and 
moneyed,  positions  to  enlist  their  expert  knowledge  and 
energies  where  they  can  be  best  applied,  but  where  there 
is  small  chance  for  parade,  promotion  or  prominence.  As 
Capt.  Jackson  said,  "These  fellows  can't  walk,  never 
learned  how,  but  they  can  ride.  They  know  horses  a? 
thoroughly  as  horses  know  them,  and  they  are  willing  to 
dig  post-holes  if  that  is  what  is  wanted.  Never  have 
caught  a  surly  look,  never  had  a  court  martial,  nor  a 
man  in  the  guard-house,  nor  a  fight,  nor  even  a  quarrel. 
These  Remounters  are  men,  let  me  tell  you." 

It  would  only  be  odd  were  they  not,  for  two  reasons — 
oh,  a  dozen  reasons,  some  of  which  have  already  appeared, 
but  of  these  two,  one  is  why  they  are  at  the  Remount. 
Most  of  them  enlisted,  men  whom  Capt.  Jackson  knew, 
or  knew  of.  Afterward,  he  wrote  to  the  Sheriffs  of  counties 
in  the  cowboy  country  asking  the  record  of  men  who  were 
coming  in  the  draft  and,  when  these  applied  to  him,  as 
they  frequently  do,  insisted  upon  being  satisfied  upon  two 


474  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

points  only,  were  they  men  and  were  they  horsemen,  and 
the  first  was  quite  as  important  as  the  second.  It  was  not 
enough,  either,  that  a  man  could  ride  anything  on  four  legs, 
even  a  bucking  horse  coming  down  upon  all  four,  stiff; 
he  must  understand  horses.  It  is  significant  that  they  do 
not  "break"  horses  at  the  Remount,  but  "gentle"  them. 
Why  I  went  into  one  corral  where  a  big  animal  would 
insist  upon  your  riding  him,  his  head  was  upon  your 
shoulder,  his  nose  poked  into  your  pocket  for  a  possible 
apple;  he  was  a  perfect  nuisance.  Three  weeks  before 
he  was  a  biting,  kicking,  jumping,  man-killing  outlaw. 
When  kindly  Sergeant  Richardson  would  say  of  a 
horse,  "Appleluce  has  Arabian  blood  in  him,  but  he  had 
the  meanest  disposition  I  ever  saw,"  you  may  know  that 
was  a  Hun  of  a  horse.  While  we  were  talking  about  him, 
another  came  by,  went  up  to  a  window  from  which  blankets 
were  hanging  to  air,  pulled  them  out  and  dragged  them  in 
the  dust  before  his  owner.  "Now  he  knows  better  than 
that,  but  I  can't  punish  him  because  I  didn't  notice  the 
poor  fellow.  A  horse  is  like  a  small  boy,  often  doing 
mischief  just  to  attract  your  attention/' 

All  over  the  Remount  you  will  see  nothing  but  kind- 
ness to  "our  little  brothers,  the  other  animals,"  and, 
strangely  more  uncommon,  nothing  but  kindness  from 
humans  to  humans.  The  whole  atmosphere  of  the  place 
is  work,  expertness,  good  cheer,  courtesy,  and  generous 
appreciation  of  the  other  fellow.  Oh,  but  it  is  refreshing. 
And  the  Commanding  Officer  is  typical  of  it  all,  the  em- 
bodied spirit  of  that  West  which  is  passing. 

Capt.  J.  W.  Jackson  is  a  Harvard  man,  as  are  several 
others  at  the  Remount,  three  of  his  own  fraternity.  He 
arrived  at  Camp  Lewis  September  1st,  "twenty  minutes 
ahead  of  the  first  load  of  horses."  He  is  tall,  lean,  lithe, 
capable,  soldierly,  joking,  "the  best  loved  man  on  the 
cantonment,"  whose  opinion  counts;  the  kind  of  a  man, 
you  know,  of  whom  no  one  even  casually  speaks  without 
adding,  with  lighting  face — Bishop  or  boxer,  officer  or 
orderly,  Y.  M.  or  K.  C.,  horse  or  dog — "Now  that's  some 
man,"  or  its  equivalent.  You  would  not  know  his  sect, 


CAMP  LEWIS  475 

but  you  would  his  faith.  When  a  Commanding  Officer's 
orderly  brightens  up  at  sound  of  the  buzzer,  and  his  men 
beam  as  they  salute,  and  his  horse  wonders  if  he  will  be 
too  busy  to  ride  today,  that  man  gets  all  there  is  of 
service,because  he  gives  all. 

Capt.  Jackson  takes  after  his  ancestor,  Robert  Morris, 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  whose  large 
fortune,  accumulated  by  his  own  energy,  was  freely  at 
the  disposal  of  the  government  when  it  was  a  magnificent 
experiment,  penniless,  warring.  In  fact,  ten  years 
before,  he  had  sacrificed  thousands  in  trade  relations  by 
assenting  to  the  Non-Importation  Act,  and  ardently  es- 
pousing the  Colonial  cause.  Morris  served  for  years  on 
the  Ways  and  Means  Committee  of  Congress,  rough, 
narrow  ways,  and  precarious  means,  involving  his  firm's 
credit  and  his  own.  More  than  once  the  Morris  hand 
signed  the  Morris  name  in  crises  which  threatened  his 
Country,  and  the  million  and  a  half  dollars  which  enabled 
Washington  to  carry  on  that  last  campaign  against  Corn- 
wallis  was  raised  by  Morris'  untiring  exertions  and  upon 
personal  notes  secured  by  his  unquestioned  integrity. 
Liberty  Loans  in  those  Liberty  Days  were  harder  to  raise 
among  an  almost  penniless  people,  than  now,  when  un- 
bounded wealth  is  secure  under  an  established  government. 

From  1781  to  1784,  Morris  had  entire  charge  of  the 
monetary  affairs  of  the  United  States.  He  established  the 
Bank  of  North  America.  He  sacrificed  his  own  business 
and  fortune  to  those  of  his  Country,  though  he  absolutely 
refused  to  become  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  sug- 
gested Hamilton.  Having  served  with  all  he  had,  he 
resigned,  though  he  was  afterward  Senator  from  Penn- 
sylvania. 

J.  W.  Jackson  responded  to  the  same  love  of  country 
by  leaving  his  great  ranch  at  Williston,  North  Dakota,  and 
organizing  the  Camp  Lewis  Remount,  a  clearing  house  for 
animals  used  in  every  branch  of  military  service,  cavalry, 
artillery,  officers'  and  orderlies'  mounts,  headquarters 
troops,  military  police,  ambulance  corps,  supply  trains  and 
quartermasters';  horses  and  mules.  Thousands  gathered 


476 


THE    NINETY-FIRST 


CAMP  LEWIS  477 

by  United  States  buyers  and  inspectors  throughout  the 
country,  are  shipped  in  carloads  to  the  Remount  Station. 
Many  of  the  animals  have  never  known  bridle.  Add  to 
their  wildness,  car-sickness,  and  bruises  and  injuries 
from  travel  and  kicking,  and  you  can  understand  that 
hundreds  of  such  animals,  unloaded  at  the  siding  at  once, 
need  expert  care,  treatment  and  training.  And  that  is  just 
what  they  have,  for  among  nearly  500  enlisted  men  at 
the  Remount  are  not  only  the  champion  riders  of  the 
world,  but  those  owning  and  managing  great  ranches  and 
ranges,  and  men  whose  whole  lives  have  been  spent  in 
rearing,  training  and  curing  animals. 

A  regular  army  man  among  these  Remount  officers 
is  he  who,  literally  and  figuratively,  is  at  the  right-hand  of 
Capt.  Jackson,  its  center.  There  is  only  one  other  place 
he  would  rather  be  and  that  is  in  France,  especially  since 
Capt.  Jackson,  just  before  the  91st  Division  went  over- 
seas, was  ordered  to  organize  an  enormous  Remount  Sta- 
tion in  that  country.  Capt.  Raeder  enlisted  in  1899  ana 
served  in  the  Philippines,  in  the  island  of  Luzon  and  in 
Manila.  He  has  known  Border  service,  and  as  Quarter- 
master agent  brought  back  all  stock  after  the  evacuation 
of  Vera  Cruz  in  1914.  From  Galveston  he  went  to  Panama 
and  the  Culebra  Cut.  At  Camp  Gaylard  he  was  in  charge 
as  Quartermaster-Sergeant.  He  had  served  in  the  1st, 
3rd,  and  6th  Cavalry,  and  at  Panama  passed  the  examina- 
tion obtaining  a  commission  as  Captain,  and  was  ordered 
to  Camp  Pike,  Arkansas.  He  was  assigned  to  the  Re- 
mount early  in  October,  1917.  Upon  the  departure  of 
Capt.  Jackson,  Raeder  was  in  charge  until  the  arrival 
of  Capt.  H.  C.  Bayley.  He  has  put  his  heart  into  the 
work  as  well  as  his  experience,  so  that  its  success  is  his. 

At  Capt.  Jackson's  left  is  Capt.  Andrew  W.  Donovan, 
Division  Veterinarian,  who  has  accomplished  much  in  this 
great  department  throughout  the  cantonment  where  thou- 
sands of  animals  are  used,  beside  those  of  the  Remount, 
at  which  Capt.  Kenneth  F.  Hinckley,  center  of  the  second 
row,  is  in  command  of  the  Veterinary  Corps.  This  Corps 
has  lately  been  placed  under  the  general  supervision  of 


478  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

the  Division  Surgeon,  since  the  diseases  of  man  and  beast 
intermingle,  if  they  are  not  identical.  More  and  more 
the  world  finds  the  weal  of  one  to  be  the  weal  of  all, 
the  ill  of  one  to  be  the  ill  of  all.  The  remainder  of  the 
group  are  First-Lieut.  Sandberg,  Second  Lieuts.  Patterson, 
Roettiger,  Ward  and  Selby,  and  First  Lieut.  Spencer,  all 
of  the  Quartermaster  or  the  Veterinary  Corps. 

Very  ancient  is  medical  science  for  veterina  (beasts 
of  burden.)  Early  Egyptians,  Greeks,  Romans,  all  studied 
it,  and  Hippocrates,  the  most  celebrated  physician  of  an- 
tiquity, born  460  B.  C.,  esteemed  it  of  sufficient  importance 
to  leave,  among  his  sixty  medical  works,  a  treatise  on 
equine  disorders.  Yet  Hippocrates  was  nineteenth  descend- 
ant of  ^sculapius,  a  physician  so  great  that  he  was  deified 
as  God  of  Healing.  You  can  see  his  Caduceus  in  his 
statue  arms  today.  The  Veterinary  Corps  bear  it,  with 
V  upon  the  staff. 

Just  150  years  before  Capt.  Hinckley  was  graduated 
from  the  Chicago  Veterinary  College,  the  first  was  estab- 
lished at  Lyons,  France,  under  the  King's  patronage. 

The  Veterinary  Corps  has  gained  greatly  in  import- 
ance during  the  war.  Owing  to  automobiles,  horses  had 
grown  scarce,  and  because  of  tractors,  so  had  mules.  Both 
are  becoming  very  valuable  to  the  government.  There  are 
some  places  in  which  they  cannot  be  supplanted  by  motors. 
Horses  do  the  showy,  quick  work;  they  are  proud  and 
fearless,  but  not  so  enduring  nor  patient  as  mules,  require 
better  food  and  more  care.  But,  as  in  other  things,  war 
is  showing  the  best  uses  for  all. 

Horses  and  Mules  are  mustered  in  at  the  Remount 
very  much  as  men  are  at  the  Depot  Brigade.  Upon  un- 
loading at  the  railroad  siding,  which  accommodates  five 
cars,  all  animals  are  carefully  examined.  If  sick  they  are 
sent  to  the  hospital;  if  injured,  to  the  operating  rooms; 
if  well,  turned  into  the  paddocks,  of  which  there  are 
twelve  adjacent.  They  are  quarantined  as  carefully  as 
men,  and  receive  their  "shot"  for  glanders  and  their 
"uniform"  brand  of  U.  S.  service,  in  the  dipping  vat. 
approached  by  a  narrow  runway  at  each  end. 


CAMP  LEWIS 


479 


I 


THE  DIPPING  VAT 

Operating  rooms  are  four,  and  as  many  as  twelve 
horses  a  day  have  gone  upon  the  table.  Everything  is  as 
clean  and  sanitary  as  in  an  up  to  date  hospital  for  men. 
The  operating  table  is  shaped  like  a  woman's  sewing  lap- 
board.  It  stands  upright  till  the  horse  is  securely  fastened 
to  it  by  broad  canvas  bands  which  pass  through  holes  in 
the  table.  He  is  blindfolded,  for  horses  are  as  nervous  as 
people.  The  table  is  covered  with  canvas  and  the  animal, 
while  unable  to  move  any  part,  is  not  uncomfortable.  Then, 
by  means  of  a  windlass,  the  table  is  tilted  and  laid  flat, 
being  moved  to  right  or  left  like  a  turn-table.  The  ani- 
mal is  chloroformed  from  a  leather  nose-bag.  It  usually 
requires  a  pound  of  anaesthetic,  but  one  extremely  nerv- 
ous horse  took  two  pounds,  and  it  was  ten  minutes  be- 


480  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

fore  he  passed  under  its  influence.  Pretty  expensive  that, 
with  chloroform  high  and  rare.  Still,  as  the  doctor  said, 
"Horses  are  lots  scarcer  than  men." 

Animals  are  shaved  about  the  operating  area  and  dis- 
infected with  iodine  just  as  other  patients  are,  and  iodine 
is  so  scarce  that  at  Base  Hospital  it  is  recovered  from  the 
sponges  to  use  again.  The  surgeon  stands  within  the  half 
moon  cut  into  the  table.  His  instruments  are  disinfected. 
If  necessary,  the  horse  patient  is  slid  off  upon  a  "stone- 
boat"  and  dragged  to  the  hospital. 

A  huge  cream-colored  mule  brings  sick  horses 
in  a  special  ambulance  from  any  part  of  camp,  and  is 
suitably  proud  of  his  size  and  importance.  He  can  easily 
draw  two  horses,  the  stretcher,  and  the  ambulance  in  which 
they  lie.  His  name  is  Cutle. 

Wishing  to  see  how  an  animal  was  placed  upon  the 
table,  Corporal  Scott  said  he  would  have  Socks  show. 

Socks  was  the  horse  that  dragged  the  blankets  to  his 
owner.  Nobody  at  the  Remount  really  owns  a  horse,  it  be- 
longs to  the  government,  but  Capt.  Jackson  believes  in 
allowing  every  man,  and  horse,  to  love  his  own — so 
Corporal  Scott  went  to  the  corral  and  snapped  his  fingers, 
and  Socks  ran  over  and  followed  the  corporal  like  a  dog  to 
the  operating  room,  where  he  went  through  the  rehearsal 
readily.  He  had  done  it  before. 

Lieuts.  Sandberg  and  Selby  are  noted  horse  surgeons, 
say  others  at  the  Remount.  They  have  been  very  successful 
with  something  usually  considered  fatal,  Poll  Evil,  gener- 
ally due  to  bruise,  and  which  causes  necrosis  of  the  liga- 
ment the  whole  length  of  the  neck.  Animals  return  for 
fresh  dressings  to  the  table.  The  first  time,  says  the 
Lieutenant,  they  are  nervous  and  shiver,  but  after  that 
they  understand  the  relief  and  readily  await  adjustment. 

There  are  six  hospitals  with  "beds"  for  one-hundred 
patients  each.  Contagious  cases  are  isolated.  Charts  are 
kept  by  the  Veterinary  nurses,  and  every  animal  is  tagged. 
The  only  thing  that  is  not  done  in  our  best  hospitals  is 
putting  up  powders  in  newspaper.  Sergt.  Keefe  does  it 
all  day,  but  weighs  them  carefully  for  all  that.  Between 


CAMP  LEWIS  481 

iiil-'-iiiii-fcM 

9000  and  10000  horses  have  been  supplied  with  medicine 
from  the  Remount,  sixteen  camp  Veterinarians  prescribing. 

After  the  animals  leave  the  hospital  they  are  kept  in 
corrals  for  the  sick  and,  later,  in  others  devoted  to  con- 
valescents. There  is  plenty  of  room  in  the  400  acres  be- 
longing to  the  Remount,  the  prettiest  part  of  camp. 

If  horses  are  well,  they  are  trained  as  soon  as  they 
are  out  of  quarantine  in  "bull  pens."  In  all  large  pictures 
of  the  camp  you  have  seen  them,  looking  like  six  gigantic 
wash  tubs  standing  together.  The  walls  of  these  slant 
back  slightly,  so  that  wild  horses  cannot  crush  their 
riders'  legs  against  the  sides,  a  favorite  trick.  This  first 
riding  furnishes  thrills  enough  for  a  dozen  moving  pictures 
and  Roundups.  After  the  worst  is  over,  the  horses  are 
ridden  in  a  larger  pen  with  only  the  corners  rounded. 
When  thoroughly  trained,  they  are  put  to  work  in  the 
Remount  or  camp,  or  shipped  to  other  points  or  to  France 
as  needed,  just  as  men  from  the  Depot  Brigade  are  as- 
signed to  Companies  here  or  elsewhere.  The  Remount 
is  not  a  part  of  the  Division  either,  nor  even,  in  a  sense, 
of  the  camp,  but  is  directly  under  government  control. 

All  the  buying  is  done  by  Lt.  Col.  G.  W.  Winterburn 
at  Fort  Keogh,  Miles  City,  Montana,  and  he  is 
superior  officer  over  the  Remount.  His  men  have  shipped 
horses  from  thirteen  Western  States  to  this  Auxiliary. 
Mules  are  principally  brought  from  California  where  they 
are  largely  used  around  Sacramento.  It  is  significant  that 
the  Remount  could  furnish  enough  bays  for  1259  of 
the  346th  Field  Artillery,  matched  blacks,  and  sorrels 
enough  for  other  bodies.  Mules  are  recruited  from  grays 
as  much  as  possible,  for  nature  has  camouflaged  them  so 
that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  distinguish  them  from  the 
ground  they  cover  when  they  carry  ammunition  to  gun- 
ners, or  bear  Engineers'  material. 

There  are  a  number  of  schools  in  the  Remount  which, 
incidentally,  educate  both  men  and  animals.  The  first 
is  the  Horseshoers'  with  recitation  rooms  of  forty-eight 
forges,  and  a  course  of  four  months.  When  a  man  takes 
his  degree  from  this  college,  he  surely  is  an  adept,  for 
many  of  the  animals  he  shoes  have  never  worn  them. 


482  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

Some,  in  fact,  are  so  wild  that  they  rear  upon  their 
haunches,  strike  with  their  fore  feet,  lunge  upon  their 
sides,  bite,  scream.  These  are  put  into  the  stocks.  Even 
then  one  man-killer  kicked  for  fifteen  minutes  before  he 
could  be  trussed  up,  kicked  so  fast  that,  as  one  shoer 
put  it,  he  looked  like  a  gigantic  humming  bird.  The  horse 
is  lifted  from  the  floor  and  the  foot  to  be  shod  is  fastened 
to  an  adjustable  steel  stanchion.  In  these  stocks  a  horse 
is  humanely  held,  and  the  man  is  safe. 

Shoes  are  always  put  on  cold,  and  are  as  carefully 
fitted  to  the  foot  as  any  fine  lady's.  In  fact,  in  this  great 
equine  shoe-shop,  all  shoes  are  practically  custom-made, 
despite  being  selected  by  size,  for  every  pair  is  shaped 
exactly  to  the  foot.  Pair!  Yes;  fore  feet  are  different 
from  hind  feet.  Shoes  are  beaten  into  shape  upon  the 
glowing  forge  quite  as  Vulcan  fashioned  his,  except  that 
he  bent  a  straight  rod.  He  too  understood  healing,  and 
likely,  the  preventive  connection  between  a  hoof  pared  to 
the  quick,  corns,  ill-fitting  shoes,  and  diseases  of  the  hoof: 
probably  taught  his  helpers  as  the  four  expert  instructors, 
each  with  two  assistants,  do  at  the  Remount.  At  any 
rate,  Capt.  Hinckley,  under  whose  charge  this  school  is, 
does,  lecturing  upon  hoof  and  leg.  Students  must  know 
every  nerve,  muscle,  ligament,  in  their  part  of  the  horse 
or  mule,  and  pass  written  examinations  upon  all  phases 
of  the  subject,  before  diplomas  are  awarded  them.  The 
practical  work  is  in  chapters  of  a  horse  a  day,  shod. 

All  organizations  send  students  to  this  school.  The 
insignia  is  a  horseshoe  upon  the  sleeve. 

Wonder  when  horses  were  first  shod,  wonder  why 
horse  shoes  have  always  been  considered  lucky?  Of  course 
when  Cortez  shod  his  mare  with  solid  silver  it  would  be 
lucky  to  pick  up  a  shoe  she  had  cast  but — probably  it 
saved  much  labor  even  if  it  were  an  iron  shoe,  before 
coal  and  coke  were  known.  At  any  rate,  some  automobil- 
ists  will  stop  a  car  and  seize  upon  a  horseshoe,  rare  nowa- 
days, though  every  stable  used  to  wear  one  over  the  door, 
and  the  papers  upon  this  desk  are  weighted  by  a  rusty 
find. 


CAMP  LEWIS  483 

After  animals  are  gentled  and  shod,  they  attend  school, 
with  packers  as  fellow-students.  Here  the  former  learn 
to  carry  225-pound  packs  and  to  follow  the  bell-mule, 
while  the  latter  learn  to  fit  the  saddle  to  the  back  and 
pack  and  strap  it.  There  are  seventy-five  in  this  school. 
The  Aparejo  pack  is  a  roof -shaped  wooden  contrivance 
upon  which  the  load  is  balanced  and  which  is  stuffed 
underneath  with  hay  to  conform  to  the  mule's  back.  If 
an  animal  has  a  sore  back  it  is  legitimately  blamed  upon 
the  packer,  for  if  properly  done  the  mule  never  minds 
his  load,  which  is,  officially,  225  pounds.  This  Aparejo 
pack  is  used  all  over  the  Southwest,  across  the  desert  and 
over  the  mountains,  and  experts  are  teaching  it  at  the 
packing  schools  of  the  "Wild  West"  Remount.  So  success- 
ful is  it,  that  the  entire  army  will  copy  it.  I  have  seen 
burros  in  our  Southwest  all  but  hidden  under  the  loads 
they  carried  with  ease  by  reason  of  this  scientific  adjust- 
ment. 

Both  packers  and  packed  are  trained  with  numbered 
pieces  of  ammunition,  wagon  parts  etc.,  and  mules  and 
packs  are  numbered,  so  that  all  are  accustomed  to  one 
another.  Beside  this,  the  mules  are  taught  to  follow  the 
leader.  Almost  falling  upon  one  another,  burros  used 
to  bring  my  heart  into  my  mouth  on  steep  trails  in 
the  Rockies.  Mules  soon  learn  to  know  their  own  bell. 

I  could  hardly  tear  myself  away  from  that  corral, 
feeling  that  at  last  I  had  broken  into  Society,  for  Mrs. 
Belle  Mule,  with  a  half-veiled  glance  at  us,  quite  like  a 
society  leader  wearing  a  rope  of  pearls  about  her  neck 
instead  of  a  bell  rope,  would  start  off  on  some  fool's  errand 
and  the  rest  would  slavishly  follow  the  leader,  even  to 
curling  their  lips  superciliously  or  switching  their  trails — 
I  mean  tails.  Mules  are  very  human. 

But  there  is  something  which  cannot  be  trained  our 
of  mules,  their  dangerous  bray,  therefore,  this  June,  West- 
ern veterinarians  operated  upon  a  mule,  removing  a 
cartilage  in  his  nose.  This  seems  to  have  been  successsful, 
though  he  may  recover  his  voice;  if  so,  the  tail  muscles 
will  be  severed,  since  no  mule  can  bray  without  raising 
his  tail. 


484  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

It  remains  to  be  seen,  however,  if,  in  quieting  him, 
they  have  not  broken  his  spirit,  for  the  mule  admires  his 
voice  far  more  than  we  do.  Still,  he  has  his  kick  left,  and 
nothing  but  amputating  his  hind  legs  will  cure  that.  As 
it  is  doubtful  if  he  could  learn  to  walk  upon  two  feet  in 
time  for  this  war,  beside  which  even  an  Arapejo  pack 
would  then  slide  off,  that  scarcely  seems  feasible.  Then, 
too,  if  this  literal  and  lateral  kick  were  removed,  it  might 
strike  in,  breaking  out  in  another  place,  perhaps  in  his 
disposition.  That  would  be  too  bad,  for  I  have  seen 
burros  turned  out  after  a  long  journey  over  the  desert, 
and  a  climb  over  mountains,  lick  the  moisture  off  a  rock, 
eat  anything  else  that  happened  to  adhere  to  it,  then 
bray  from  a  full  stomach  and  a  contented  mind,  and  be 
ready  for  an  evening  of  pleasure  tagging  their  society 
leader. 

Another  school  at  the  Remount  is  the  Saddlers',  where 
twelve  men  remain  for  a  course  of  nine  crowded  weeks. 
Harness  work  is  included,  and  men,  trained,  are  returned 
to  their  units.  The  emblem  is  a  saddler's  knife  which,  in 
felt,  looks  much  like  a  spread  fan  with  a  long  handle. 
This  knife  is  shaped  exactly  like  an  Esquimo  woman's, 
or  a  chopping  knife. 

There  have  been  6500  horses  at  one  time  at  the  Re- 
mount, and  650  teamsters  have  spent  two  months  at  school 
learning  to  care  for  them  properly.  All  stable  sergeants 
and  wagoners  are  furnished  camp  organizations  from 
there.  The  latter's  insignia  is  a  wheel.  The  farrier  wears 
a  horse-head,  the  mechanic,  crossed  hammers.  Farrier 
used  to  mean,  horse-shoer,  a  worker  in  iron,  ferrum. 
All  these  have  become  experts  in  paying  trades  for  use 
after  the  war.  The  "professional  man"  will  be  less  com- 
mon then;  man  and  manual  will  be  more  honorably 
coupled,  and  the  present  connection  between  men  and 
menial  will  be  lost.  Oh,  the  war  will  bring  many  com- 
pensations— 

• 

"It's  coming  yet,  for  a'   that, 
That  man  to  man,  the  wvrld  o'er 
Shall  brothers  be  for  a'  that!" 


CAMP   LEWIS 


485 


Capt.  Jackson  knew  every  man  in  his  command  and 
took  an  interest  in  everything.  The  beautiful  Remount 
Assembly  Hall  was  fathered  by  him.  Battlemented  without, 
like  an  ancient  keep,  the  idea  is  carried  on  in  the  hall, 
which  was  designed  by  Andrew  Doppee  a  Belgian,  student 
at  the  Brussels  Beaux  Arts,  and  who  as  an  Engineer 
worked  upon  the  fortifications  of  Antwerp.  The  stone 


THE  REMOUNT  LIBRARY 

fireplace  is  beautiful.  The  wrought-iron  andirons  and 
fittings,  suggesting  halberds,  and  the  artistic  light  fixtures, 
were  all  made  in  the  Remount  blacksmith  shop:  Vulcan 
was  an  artist  in  wrought  iron.  Appropriate  pictures, 
most  of  them  colored  prints  of  cowboy  scenes,  riding, 
roping;  mottoes,  framed  poems,  one,  I  remember,  Kip- 
ling's inspiring  //,  fine  mounted  heads,  rustic  boxes  of 
flowers — all  true  horsemen  love  flowers — artistic  every- 
thing. Comfortable  chairs  and  tables,  a  branch  of  Liberty 
Library,  and  a  small  one  of  their  very  own  including  a 
copy  of  Rough  Riders  autographed  by  Theodore  Roosevelt 
§  33 


486  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

"for  his  friend  Dr.  Jackson,"  and  another  by  Maj.  Gen. 
R.  G.  E.  Leckie,  homey  all  of  it,  no  wonder  the  Remount 
men  haunt  the  place  and  have  clever  programs  almost 
every  night.  Think  of  the  talent  there! 

Over  the  high  mantel,  upon  a  background  of  logs,  hangs 
a  beautiful  painting  by  the  celebrated  "cowboy  artist," 
Russell.  This  is  the  letter  which  accompanied  the  gift, 
through  his  old  acquaintance,  Capt.  Jackson,  who  showing 
it,  drew  attention  to  the  careless  hand-writing  of  the 
man,  and  to  the  beautiful  lettering  and  little  sketch  upon 
the  envelope,  the  work  of  the  artist. 

Great  Falls,  Mont.,  December  8,  1917. 
Dear  Captain  Jackson: 

I  am  glad  to  know  that  my  kind  of  men  are  delivering 
the  goods.  The  boys  I  knew  on  the  range  long  ago  were 
Tough  on  the  outside  but  under  the  hide  regular  men. 

The  cow  puncher  is  the  last  of  America's  frontiers- 
men. The  trapper,  bull-whacker,  stage  driver,  mule  skin- 
ner, have  stepped  into  history.  The  cow  puncher  must 
soon  take  the  same  trail,  but  like  all  others  of  his  kind 
will  not  be  forgotten  by  romance  or  history.  He  ivas  part 
of  the  West  that  time  can't  wipe  out.  If  a  plain's  Injun 
wanted  to  say  that  a  man  was  alright  in  sign  language  he 
made  the  sign  for  strong  and  heart — meaning  that  the  man 
was  brave,  square  and  all  that's  good  in  a  human.  This 
sign  would  go  for  most  of  the  cow  hands  I  know  and  these 
young  men  you  have  today  are  out  (Of  the  same  mold. 
I've  known  punchers  to  give  a  man  the  Sheriff  was  hunt- 
ing a  fresh  horse..  This  aint  according  to  law,  but  its 
friendship  and  the  man  that  does  it  will  die  holding  his 
flag. 

I  am  sending  you  the  only  cow  puncher  picture  I  have, 
punchers  scaring  cattle  out  of  the  brakes — called  "Smok- 
ing 'Em  Out."  Hang  it  up  and  when  you  get  tired  of 
it  or  the  Camp  breaks,  send  it  to  some  city  where  it  can 
be  sold  and  turn  the  money  over  to  the  soldiers  in  a  way 
you  think  best.  If  you  sell  it,  get  $1,000  for  it.  That  is 
the  least  I  would  take. 

With  best  wishes  to  you  and  all  the  boys. 

Yours  sincerely, 

C.  M.  Russell. 


CAMP  LEWIS 


487 


488  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

There  are  other  interesting  things  at  the  Remount: 
a  pair  of  superb  silver  spurs  weighing  over  three  pounds, 
with  which  a  Villa  bandit  spurred  his  Death  Charger  over 
the  Great  Divide,  so  needed  them  no  more;  a  piece  of 
Zeppelin  which  dropped  its  driver  into  the  Undiscovered 
Country, — this  was  sent  the  Captain  by  his  sister,  Miss 
Alice  Jackson  who  has  adopted  forty  war-orphaned  French 
children. 

Also,  a  Remount  blacksmith  reproduced  a  weapon, 
if  one  might  so  designate  something  used  against  the  de- 
fenseless, an  iron  about  eight  inches  long,  pointed,  set 
with  spikes,  and  used  to  despatch  the  wounded,  found 
upon  a  German  battlefield. 

Two  wonderful  Rodeos,  three,  were  produced  by  the 
Remount.  In  December,  the  program  included  an  old 
cowboy  diversion,  a  package  race.  Ten  men  rode  fiery 
horses  to  a  goal,  dismounted,  opened  wrapped  bundles, 
donned  whatever  apparel  or  impedimenta  they  contained, 
and  raced  back.  There  was  competitive  Aparejo  packing; 
there  were  range  races  in  which  the  men  must  first  catch 
the  horses,  then  saddle,  mount,  and  circle  the  track;  relay 
races — everything.  But  all  this  is  play  for  such  horse- 
men as  Camp  Lewis'  Remount  boasts. 

The  Remount  staged  the  First  and  Last  exhibitions 
of  the  Ninety-First  at  Camp  Lewis.  Their  own  arena, 
built  for  the  former,  was  crowded  for  the  latter,  and  the 
18,000  seated,  looked  upon  nearly  as  many  upon  the  grassy 
slope  opposite.  Capt.  Jackson  planned  it  as  a  demonstra- 
tion of  the  military  efficiency  attained  by  all  animal- 
equipped  units,  for  which  the  Remount  had  trained  and 
furnished  horses  and  mules — graduating  exercises,  so  to 
speak,  for  Man  and  Beast,  Division  and  Remount.  Being 
ordered  overseas  before  they  came  upon  the  stage,  the 
big  affair  devolved  upon  Capt.  Raeder,  in  command,  who 
managed  it  as  if  that  had  been  his  sole  business. 

The  program  was  carried  out  as  planned  save  that 
the  field  ambulances  could  not  appear  owing  to  the  mules 
being  in  quarantine;  but  of  course  that  only  served  to 
make  the  performance  more  natural  and  home-like — 


CAMP  LEWIS  489 

somebody  was  always  quarantined.  There  was  no  lagging, 
either.  Contestants  were  fairly  crowded  out  of  the  field. 
Officers  entered  all  events  open  to  them  and  cheered  the 
others — there  was  always  close  goodwill  among  them 
and  you,  was  there  not?  Of  course  Capt.  Cook  helped,  as 
he  always  does. 

Fully  thirty  thousand  people  enjoyed  the  spectacle, 
massed  bands  played,  soldiers  on  the  slope  sang,  the  Di- 
vision Athletic  Club  was  thousands  of  dollars  richer, 
Companies  took  handsome  trophies,  and  individuals  won 
prizes  of  every  sort  to  which  Governors  Bamberger  of 
Utah,  Alexander  of  Idaho  and  Houx  of  Wyoming;  Mayors 
Rolph  of  San  Francisco  and  Baker  of  Portland,  among 
many,  contributed.  As  usual,  Portland  was  to  the  fore. 
Its  Chamber  of  Commerce  sent  a  Loving  Cup,  and  its 
City  Commissioner  twenty  dollars,  bettered  by  five  from 
their  Mayor.  The  prizes  ranged  from  a  fifty-dollar  Liberty 
bond  from  a  Seattle  restaurant  to  a  briar  pipe  from  its 
finest  hotel. 

Naturally,  the  Remount  itself  took  the  majority  of 
prizes.  Setting  up  an  escort  wagon,  for  instance,  was 
interesting  to  the  crowd.  Men  driving,  leaped  at  a  signal 
from  them,  took  them  to  pieces  and  put  them  together. 
There  was  a  mounted  courier  dispatch,  a  machine  gun 
drill,  all  taking  on  stern  interest  because  of  the  feeling 
that  this  was  to  be  hereafter  a  contest  with  life  or  death 
for  first  prize,  health  or  wound  for  second,  freedom  or 
capture  for  third.  Everything  in  the  program  was 
strictly  military  except  the  Cossack  riding  and  the  Roman 
race  in  which  McDowell,  Diest,  Peabody  and  Barkley  of 
the  Remount  took  first  and  second,  and  Goodnight  of 
Headquarters  Troop  and  Binna  of  181st  Brigade  Head- 
quarters, third. 

The  sun  shone  encouragingly,  and  nobody  was  hurt 
nor  robbed  among  the  whole  80,000  who  visited  Camp 
Lewis,  so  said  the  Military  Police,  although  14000  autos 
entered  the  cantonment. 

Yes,  it  was  a  perfect  day,  that  Sunday,  except  for 
those  to  whom  it  was  shadowed  by  your  departure,  Ninety- 
First.  Some  of  you  left  that  very  week. 


490  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

Capt.  Jackson  insisted,  though  no  one  disputed  it,  that 
in  the  whole  world  no  better  horsemen  ever  assembled 
than  at  the  Remount  during  the  life  of  the  Ninety-First, 
for  the  sufficient  reason  that  there  never  have  been  better. 
He  took  back  the  pictures  of  several  he  had  given  for  this 
book,  saying  that  he  would  have  them  all,  that  not  a  man 
should  be  omitted,  but  he  left  so  unexpectedly  that  you 
cannot  now  see  many  between  these  covers,  and  it  is  a 
pity  to  refer  only  to  a  few  when  there  are  scores.  Never 
in  one  place  have  so  many  champions  gathered,  working 
prosaically,  cheerfully  responding  even  to — 

STABLE    CALL 

Come  to  the  stable  all  ye  who  are  able, 

And  give  to  your  horses  some  hay  and  some  corn; 
If  you  don't  do  it  the  Colonel  will  know  it 

And  then  you  will  rue  it  as  sure  as  you're  born; 
Come  then  to  the  stable  all  ye  who  are  able 

And  give  to  your  horses  some  hay  and  some  corn. 

No  other  Division  has  the  cowboy  States  to  draw  from, 
no  other  Remount  than  this  Wild  West.  Both  Division 
and  Remount  are  accustomed  to  World  Champions,  in  con- 
sequence. What  will  the  clumsy  Germans  think  when  men 
like  these  rush  down  upon  them?  Sergt.  Walter  Kane — 
right  end — and  his  brother  Ray,  also  of  the  Remount,  were 
riding  inspection,  buying  horses  for  the  Government. 
When  we  went  in,  Capt.  Jackson  wanted  these  "wonder- 
ful horsemen".  Both  resigned  their  lucrative  positions, 
gave  over  their  large  ranch  in  Nevada  to  the  manage- 
ment of  another  brother,  and  volunteered.  Ray  is  called 
"Captain"  because  he  is  a  private,  as  Mark  Twain  called 
his  dog  Spot  because  he  had  none,  and  Sergt.  Kane  is 
Beartracks.  He  assisted  Sergt.  Richardson  in  arena  man- 
agement at  the  Remount's  wonderful  performance  in 
Tacoma's  Stadium  4th  of  July,  where,  as  he  said,  were 
gathered  men  whom  a  million  dollars  could  not  have  as- 
sembled in  peace  times.  Next  him  is  Earnest  Winning, 
he  was  actually  baptized  both  appropriate  names.  He 
won  the  title  of  champion  bull-whip  of  the  world.  How- 


CAMP  LEWIS 


491 


492  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

ever,  the  only  part  of  his  name  by  which  he  is  known 
is  "Buckles."  Roy  Barkley,  "Slivers",  could  ride  a  wind 
without  injury,  he  was  in  the  hippodrome  race  at  the 
Stadium,  and  "Sandy  Hutton,"  next,  took  part  in  "Hooli- 
haning"  the  steer,  and  in  all  the  wildest  riding.  The  end 
man  is  Elmer  Teich,  whose  "proper  name  is  Ten  Shot, 
the  best  roper  and  rider  in  Montana,"  rather  a  big  bill 
to  fill,  but  on  authority  of  Capt.  Jackson — "Teich,  German  ? 
No  German  gets  a  job  here."  He  is  a  private  at  the  Re- 
mount. He  ran  his  own  ranch  at  Sheridan  where  he  sold 
$14,000  worth  of  cows  last  year. 

John  Mama's  Boy  Bell  has  worked  up  to  mess  sergeant 
here,  but  managed  his  father's  ranch  at  Cheyenne,  Wyom- 
ing. Bell  can  rope  and  throw  any  bull  that  lives.  As  for 
the  ranch,  that  has  a  world's  record  of  125  tons  of — now 
what  was  that,  something  at  $30  a  ton — the  last  year 
before  Mama's  Boy  broke  away  from  home  and  into  the 
Remount. 

It  must  be  great  fun  "to  see  yourselves  as  others  see 
you,"  especially  when  you  are  doing  such  impossible  feats 
as  those  riders  and  ropers  do.  The  Pendleton  Roundup 
pictures  were  shown  one  night  at  the  Remount's  Assembly 
hall  and  a  number  of  the  men  who  sat  in  the  audience 
had  that  pleasure.  Private  Paxton  Irvine,  son  of  former 
United  States  Senator  from  Wyoming,  was  one  of  them. 
Young  Paxton  owns  a  $60,000  stock  range  at  Douglas. 
Private  "Art  Burmeister  was  another  whose  ride  in 
Roundup  and  film  was  the  most  sensational.  He  is  shown 
wearing  a  superb  silver  belt,  but  he  does  not  appear  in 
it  at  the  Remount  when  stable-boying.  What  he  was  given 
for  one  ride  then  would  pay  him  here  for  a  year.  Another 
prominent  figure  in  the  picture  was  the  "Calgary  Kid" 
whose  "maiden  name"  is  Ora  de  Mille.  He  came  down 
from  Canada  to  volunteer  for  this  notable  Remount.  His 
people  own  a  ranch  at  Galgary.  He  specialized  in  driving 
the  stage  coach  for  Wild  West  pictures,  so  has  not  yet 
had  a  smash-up  in  the  wagon  train  at  the  Remount. 
Joking  aside,  there  has  never  been  an  accident  at  the 
Remount,  and  Capt.  Jackson  is  proud  of  that  record,  says, 
and  truly,  that  experts  are  careful. 


CAMP  LEWIS  493 

A.  M.  McDowell  and  twin  brothers  are  all  there  from 
the  Crow  reservation;  "Shoat  Eyes,"  "Dad"  and  "Jock," 
three  riders  great  enough  to  be  mentioned  by  the  Captain. 
They  own  a  ranch  near  Billings.  As  for  Sergt.  Donelson, 
he  has  discarded  a  horse  as  too  easy  to  jump  from  in 
"bulldogging"  a  steer.  At  Miles  City  he  did  it  from  a 
racing  auto  and  threw  his  steer  in  twenty  seconds.  At 
the  first  Camp  Lewis  Remount  Rodeo  he  militarized  this 
achievement  by  leaping  from  the  tin  bath-tub  attached 
to  a  Headquarters  motorcycle,  going  at  American  speed. 
His  mother  named  Donelson,  Rolla,  but  this  has  neces- 
sarily been  shortened  to  "Oklahoma  Slim." 

Mickey  Millerick  was  a  California  bareback  or  surcin- 
gle Pony  Express  show  rider  and,  with  several  others 
at  Remount,  moving  picture  rider.  Purposely,  "horse" 
was  omitted.  Mules,  wild  steers,  zebras,  bears,  anything, 
though  it  seems  chamois  was  not  mentioned.  However, 
a  chamois  leaping  from  rock  to  rock,  up  or  down  a  moun- 
tain, would  only  give  Millerick  a  broader  view  of  life;  he 
would  mount,  there  would  be  no  remount  about  it. 

Still  further,  from  Headquarters  at  Wyoming  and 
Washington  Avenues,  perhaps  three  miles,  lies  the  Flying 
Circle,  most  remarkable  ranch  in  the  world.  Its  foreman 
is  Sergt.  Walter  Kane,  and  probably  every  "hired  man" 
on  it  individually  owns  a  ranch  in  which  that  would  make 
a  nice,  roomy  paddock.  George  Wilson,  for  instance,  high 
corporal,  has  2000  head  out  at  pasture  on  his  place  near 
Salinas,  California.  Russel  "Little  Ax"  Farris,  owns  a 
ranch  near  Cheyenne.  "Guinea"  Maggine,  Charles  by  the 
card,  managed  a  famous  Oregon  ranch.  Edward  "Tyboe" 
W.  Whitaker,  rode  United  States  inspection  before  he 
volunteered  for  the  Remount  from  Utah,  where  his  father 
owns  a  ranch  near  Ogden.  Sergt.  William  Lockie  is  one  of 
Lockie  Brothers,  Miles  City,  Horse  and  Cattle  Company. 
Sergt.  Bob  Clark  is  one  of  the  best  horseman  in  Montana. 

There's  a  private  of  twenty-one  crowded  years  at  Re- 
mount, whose  father  is  Col.  Bullen  of  the  British  Hussars, 
whose  uncle,  Gen.  Cavanaugh,  is  British  Cavalry  Com- 
mander, whose  cousin,  Gen.  John  Gough,  holding  the  Vic- 


494  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

toria  Cross  and  Distinguished  Service  Order,  was  killed 
early  in  this  war.  His  brother,  Lieut.  Bullen,  is  of  the 
Royal  Field  Artillery.  Just  out  of  Harrow,  the  boy  wanted 
to  be  a  cowboy  and  drifted  to  Eaton's  ranch  out  in  Wyom- 
ing near  the  Indians  of  whom  a  Britisher  dreams.  Then 
he  worked  for  three  years  on  an  even  Western-er  ranch 
in  Australia,  and  now  he  is  at  the  Remount  while  his  kin 
are  famous  on  the  battlefields  of  France. 

At  the  Stadium  Remount  performance,  which  was  the 
birthday  party  of  Camp  Lewis'  first  year,  the  pick  r 
both  riders  and  mounts  was  shown  in  a  Wild  West  per- 
formance which  can  never  again  be  staged,  for  soon  after, 
many  were  gone  where  needed  in  the  Titanic  struggle  over- 
seas. 

It  was  headed  by  the  new  officer  in  command  of  the 
Remount,  Capt.  H.  C.  Bayley  of  Virginia,  who  was  but 
twelve  years  old  when  he  began  to  ride  at  horse  shows. 
He  and  his  brother  three  times  won  the  national  champion- 
ship government  cup.  He  also  rides  to  hounds  and  is  a 
noted  polo  player.  Capt.  Bayley  has  made  both  high  and 
broad  record  jumps,  so  that  he  must  feel  quite  at  hon~ 
among  the  Remount  horsemen,  though  their  riding  is  as 
different  as  their  lives  from  his  in  Old  Virginia. 

Capt.  Raeder  was  general  manager  of  this  exhibition, 
and  Sergt.  Richardson,  director.  Beside  the  riders  men- 
tioned, the  Askins  brothers,  champions  at  the  Miles  City 
Rodeo  last  year,  Private  Baker,  for  two  successive  years 
winner  of  the  world's  bucking-horse  contest  at  Fort 
Morgan,  Colorado,  Bell  and  Irvine,  world's  champion 
ropers  at  the  Cheyenne  Frontier  Days'  contest,  Coleman— 
if  there  is  a  very  best  bucking-horse  rider,  considered  by 
many  that  best.  In  the  "We-wont-go-home-till-morning" 
race  you  will  grieve  to  know  that  Wesley  Deist  was  the 
most  hilarious,  in  spite  of  his  two  sanctified  names,  and 
the  added  nickname  of  Silent.  Even  "Midget"  Douglas, 
who  has  been  a  figure  in  Wild  West  Roundups  for  years, 
appeared,  having  been  drafted  a  few  weeks  before. 

One  of  the  most  wonderful  features  of  the  exhibit  was, 
however,  the  horses  themselves,  the  understanding  they 


CAMP  LEWIS 


495 


showed  in  pursuing  a  wild  steer  and,  when  it  was  lassoed, 
in  standing  stock  still,  seemingly  without  signal  of  any 
kind,  while  their  riders  ran  to  the  steer,  grasped  its  horns 
and  forced  it  by  sheer  strength  to  the  ground.  Until  they 
dismounted,  they  were  Centaurs  indeed.  Remember 
Centaurs  were  men  of  Thessaly,  and,  as  the  word  implies, 
bull-killers,  but  so  ceaselessly  were  those  ancient  cowboys 
in  the  saddle,  so  well  did  the  ride,  that  horse  and  •man 
seemed  one,  and  the  fable  grew. 


However,  everything  in  the  Remount,  from  the  men, 
the  horses  and  mules,  to  Sergt.  Richardson's  goat,  and 
his  Airedale,  ever  on  the  alert  to  salute,  is  trained.  The 
Sergeant,  kindly,  telling  every  man's  triumphs  but  his 
own,  is  one  of  the  world's  great  riders.  Of  the  482  at 
the  Remount,  he  picked  most  of  these  mentioned,  for  the 
"Birthday  party",  beside  Roth  Clark,  Harry  Peabody, 
Norman  Venable,  Edward  Aspsas,  Frank  Daniels  and 
Virgil  Absten,  to  mention  them  baptismally,  to  represent 


496  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

that  West  of  which  they  are  a  typical  remnant,  the  bound- 
less, adventurous,  dramatic  but  genuine  West,  antagonistic 
to  everything  for  which  the  Hun  stands,  and,  against  him, 
and  him  only,  the 

WILD  WEST. 


CAMP  LEWIS  497 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

THE  FIRST — LAST  44TH  INFANTRY — COL.  E.  N.  JONES  AND 
LIEUT.  E.  N. — A  BENCH  SHOW — OFFICERS  WHO  MOVED  ON 
AND  SOME  WHO  STAYED  —  CHAPLAIN  KENDALL  —  AN 
ASSYRIAN,  A  SERBIAN,  A  GREEK,  AN  AMERICAN,  AND  AN 
INDIAN — SERGT.  BIRD'S  AMAZING  JUMP — THE  TWO  ENDS 
OF  AN  ARMY  FROM  ONE  CLUB A  SELF  DEMOTION. 

Probably  no  other  than  this  verse  in  the  Bible  is 
implicitly  believed  by  every  man  in  an  entire  regiment, 
"The  first  shall  be  last  and  the  last  first,"  that  regiment 
being  the  44th  United  States  Infantry.  It  was  organized 
early  in  the  Summer  of  1917  at  Vancouver  Barracks,  of 
volunteers  only,  men  eager  for  immediate  overseas  service 
who  thought  "Regs"  would  sooner  reach  the  Front  than 
the  National  Army.  Only  attached  to  Camp  Lewis  when 
the  91st  Division  formed  there,  the  44th  was  never  a 
part  of  it,  patiently  awaiting  marching  orders.  The  only 
ones  who  moved  on  were  their  officers,  scarcely  one  of 
whom  remains.  Other  bodies  were  ordered  abroad  from 
time  to  time,  and  finally  the  entire  Division  went  overseas, 
but  the  44th  remained.  It  speaks  well  for  the  fiber  of  the 
enlisted  men  with  it  that  they  did  not  entirely  lose  spirit 
under  these  repeated  disappointments.  They  had  trained 
intensively,  they  were  of  Americans  and  the  West  more 
than  any  other  regiment,  not  a  man  of  them  was  drafted 
until  some  time  after  their  arrival  at  Camp  Lewis.  A 
private  spoke  for  others:  "We  enlisted  to  follow  the 
fortunes  of  war  but  instead  were  followed  by  mis-fortunes 
of  peace.  It  was  the  limit  when  they  wished  hundreds 
of  aliens  on  us,  picked  green  at  that,  but  we're  soldiers 
we — we  don't  even  talk." 


498 


THE    NINETY-FIRST 


COL.  EDWARD  N.  JONES 


Although  Col.  Edward  N.  Jones  did  not  rejoin  the 
44th  until  November,  he  has  remained  with  his  regiment, 
almost  the  only  officer  to  do  so.  He  came  from  the  8th 
Infantry  to  organize  his  own  at  Vancouver  Barracks.  He 


CAMP  LEWIS  499 

has  seen  longer  service  than  any  other  Commander  at 
Camp,  having  been  graduated  in  the  same  class  with  Gen. 
Pershing  from  West  Point,  thirty-six  years  ago,  but  he 
is  a  younger  man  than  the  General,  for  he  was  but  seven- 
teen when  he  entered  the  United  States  Military  Academy. 
In  those  days  candidates  were  first  examined  at  a  city 
in  their  own  State  and  the  successful  contestant  then  went 
to  West  Point  and  was  again  subjected  to  a  difficult  exam- 
ination. If  he  failed  to  pass  this,  he  had  the  mortification 
of  returning  to  his  home,  and  at  his  own  expense. 

When,  ambitious  to  enter  this  competitive  examination, 
young  Jones  went  to  Selma,  Alabama,  not  very  far  from 
the  plantation  upon  which  he  was  born,  he  had  never  been 
out  of  his  native  State.  His  father,  a  noted  jurist,  had 
followed  the  practice  of  Southern  gentlemen  in  those  days 
by  erecting  a  small  school-house  upon  his  plantation,  as- 
sembling the  children  of  near-by  planters,  and  bringing 
in  a  teacher.  The  young  boy,  small  for  his  age,  had  had 
no  other  schooling  but  was  ready  for  college  when  he 
entered  this  competitive  test  with  a  number  of  boys,  all 
older,  and  prepared  in  city  schools.  An  uncle  urged  the 
youngster  to  return  for  a  visit,  assuring  him  that  he 
stood  no  chance  with  the  others,  but,  to  this  day  from 
that,  man  and  boy  was  sure  of  what  he  knew.  He  re- 
mained and  won.  In  fact,  that  was  a  family  characteristic, 
judging  from  what  has  been  accomplished  by  various  mem- 
bers of  the  Welsh  family  from  which  they  sprang.  The 
Welsh  seem  to  have  so  few  names  and  them  such  common 
ones, —  Lloyd,  Williams  and  Jones  almost  exhaust  the 
supply,  that  men  must  distinguish  themselves  to  sound 
out.  From  before  the  Revolution,  and  during  it,  Jones 
did  so  sound,  in  fighting,  in  authorship,  in  law.  A  Jones 
owned  large  estates  in  Viginia  and  was  repeatedly  mem- 
ber of  the  House  of  Burgesses.  From  one,  Peter  Jones, 
Petersburg  was  named  in  Old  Virginia. 

Lieut.  Edward  N.  Jones  was  given  his  commission  just 
in  time  to  do  some  fighting  against  the  Apaches  and  help 
round  up  Geronimo.  Only  Col.  Jones  and  Gen.  McDonald 
wear  the  red  service  ribbon  at  Camp  Lewis.  The  former 


500  THE    NINETYxFIRST 

was  still  Second-Lieutenant  when  troops  were  fired  upon 
by  the  Sioux,  resulting  in  the  disgraceful  Pine  Ridge  mas- 
sacre, between  Christmas  and  New  Years  1890-1,  resultant 
upon  the  Ghost  Dance  troubles,  after  which  Sitting  Bull 
came  to  his  merited  end.  A  pipe  bag  belonging  to  this 
old  scoundrel  and  some  ghost  shirts  and  paraphernalia 
used  in  that  wonderful  movement  are  in  my  own  collection. 

It  was  upon  this  campaign  that  Lieut.  Jones 
marched  with  his  company,  the  thermometer  registering 
forty  degrees  below  zero  the  entire  forty-two  miles,  to 
Fort  McKinney.  This,  in  reply  to  a  young  fellow  of  the 
44th,  who,  telling  of  the  long  hikes  they  take  in  that  regi- 
ment to  harden  them  for  campaigning  in  France,  said  that 
one  day  they  had  just  returned  from  a  little  stroll  of 
twenty  miles  when  he  overheard  the  Colonel  inquire  of 
a  young  lieutenant,  with  no  hint  of  irony  in  the  tone, 
"fatigued?"  It  helps  these  green  young  National  Army 
boys  to  know  their  older  officers  did  it  all,  and  much  more. 
As  for  hikes,  the  44th  began  with  twelve  miles. 

In  the  Cuban  war,  Jones  was  Aid  to  Gen.  Randall. 
Then  he  went  to  the  Philippines  for  five  years,  and  saw 
some  real  fighting.  The  cities  were  peaceful  but  he  was 
unwilling  to  remain  so.  He  pursued  Gen.  Caillas  so 
relentlessly  that  the  latter  set  a  price  of  $10,000  upon 
his  head  and  posted  the  offer  wherever  he  thought  it 
unlikely  Americans  would  see  it,  throughout  the  island. 
Quite  a  flattering  price  for  bringing  in  one  caput  when 
you  reflect  how  the  head-hunters  enjoyed  the  sport  for 
its  own  sake.  However,  Col.  Jones  is  still  wearing  a  cap, 
in  fact  was  Chief  Quartermaster  for  nearly  two  years 
with  Gen.  Leonard  Wood  at  Mindanoa  after  that. 

Not  being  Gen.  Wood's  Aid,  there  is  not  the  slightest 
connection  of  ideas  in  the  decision  of  the  former's  little 
son,  years  ago  in  Manila,  when  he  and  Frank  Davis,  the 
361st  Colonel's  son,  were  forming  their  leaden  soldiers 
for  battle.  Frank,  as  head  of  the  Benzine  Board,  was 
about  to  cast  out  several  bent  and  broken  as  unfit  for  the 
ranks,  when  little  Judge-Advocate  Wood  said,  "No;  we'll 
just  lean  them  against  this  post,  they're  good  enough  for 
Aids." 


CAMP  LEWIS  501 

Jones  unearthed  plots  concocted  against  our  government 
in  the  islands  by  one  of  the  other  powers,  whose  consul 
thought  it  advisable  to  flee.  Then  he  brought  in  another 
conspirator,  with  proof,  only  to  be  told  that  the  man  would 
better  be  dismissed,  that  international  complications  might 
arise.  But  Jones  insisted  that  either  the  man  was  guilty 
or  he  himself  for  accusing  him,  and  that  one  or  the  other 
must  be  tried,  which  was  finally  done,  and  the  plotter 
sentenced  to  be  hanged.  He  was  only  imprisoned,  how-' 
ever,  and  a  general  amnesty  afterward  freed  him. 

That  is  a  peculiarity  of  Col.  Jones,  he  is  as  sure  as 
Lord  Macauley  of  what  he  knows.  One  day  when  the 
regiment  was  on  parade,  there  was  something  about  escort- 
ing the  colors  which  did  not  satisfy  the  Colonel,  who  is 
a  stickler  for  regulations.  He  complained  to  the  Captain 
of  the  Company,  who  cited  page  and  paragraph  of  the 
manual  to  prove  that  the  ceremony  had  been  correctly  per- 
formed; for  Col.  Jones,  though  strict,  has  a  reputation 
for  justness  not  less  than  authority  upon  such  procedure. 

"Tear  it  out,"  yelled  the  Colonel,  "if  that's  what  it  says, 
tear  it  out,  it's  wrong."  "And,"  added  the  relater  proudly, 
"It  was.  Col.  Jones  knows  what  he's  about,  and  every- 
body knows  it." 

There  have  been  of  his  family  in  every  war  of  this 
Country,  and  the  Colonel  welcomed  his  only  son,  Lieut. 
Edward  N.,  into  this.  Straight  from  graduation  at  West 
Point,  he  came  to  visit  his  parents  and  was  given  what 
might  be  called  his  coming-in  party  at  the  officers'  hall 
of  the  44th,  all' its  officers  and  their  wives  receiving  with 
Col.  and  Mrs.  Jones,  and  a  large  number  of  guests 
dancing.  There  was  a  great  birthday  cake,  too,  for  Lieut. 
E.  N.,  Junior,  was  twenty-one,  the  age  of  Lieut.  E.  N., 
former,  just  after  taking  his  commission. 

The  band  of  the  44th  is  enough  to  make  one  dance, 
anyway.  For  a  long  time,  the  regiment,  expecting  to  go 
Across,  did  nothing  to  improve  its  surroundings,  but 
finally  erected  the  most  artistic  bandstand  on  the  canton- 
ment. The  foundation  is  octagonal,  of  crossed  logs,  steps 
of  puncheon.  The  rail  has  44th  intermingled  in  varied 
§  34 


502  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

styles.  Log  pillars  uphold  a  roof  of  saplings.  Rustic 
flowers  boxes  and  baskets  make  it  gay.  A  twisted  dead 
tree  still  serves  to  swing  a  sign  inviting  everybody  to 
tri-weekly  concerts,  and  twelve  large  and  comfortable 
rustic  benches  encircling  the  green,  repeat  the  invitation. 
These  seats  were  made  by  the  mechanics  of  every  company 
of  the  44th,  in  a  Spring  competition.  The  prize  of  ten 
dollars  was  awarded  that  made  by  Company  H.  It  is 
really  beautiful,  of  scrub  oak  with  the  gray  lichen  and 
bark  left  upon  it,  Company  letter  and  Regiment  number 
set  in  as  ornament  to  the  back,  and  the  whole  pinned 
together  in  Dutch  style.  Company  K's  is  a  close  second 
in  beauty,  with  brown  hazel  branches  forming  a  long 
graceful  curve  from  its  high  back  for  its  seat.  Most  of 
them,  however,  are  artistic,  and  all  comfortable  to  rest 
upon  of  an  evening  after  coming  in,  tired  and  dirty, 
from  the  rifle-range. 

Capt.  J.  G.  Platts  has  given  the  men  talks  upon  astron- 
omy, for  they  must  march  by  the  stars  at  night,  and 
upon  map-making — they  have  an  eight-by-fourteen  map, 
for  the  day  use.  The  44th  has  specialized  in  battalion  night 
work.  Those  wearing  white  upon  their  hats  and  arms 
are  enemies  to  be  sought  out. 

The  44th  came  to  Camp  Lewis  under  command  of  Maj. 
Isaac  Newell,  now  full  Colonel,  and  long  since  gone  from 
the  regiment.  Maj.  Charles  E.  Reese  followed  the  leadei 
in  both  respects,  and  is  now  Colonel  in  command  of  the 
School  of  Musketry,  Fort  Sill,  Oklahoma — no  wonder:  he 
too,  holds  the  rare  Distinguished  Rifle  Shdt  Medal,  third 
only,  of  those  coveted  medals  won,  to  my  knowledge,  by 
officers  stationed  at  Camp  Lewis  this  first  year.  Maj. 
W.  J.  Hartigan,  of  the  61st  Infantry,  is  in  France. 

As  for  Captains,  Huston,All-American  football  player  at 
West  Point,  went  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kenneth  Halpine 
to  Camp  Beauregard,  Harold  Dabney,  now  Major,  to  the 
76th  Infantry.  All  these  were  Regular  army  men,  West 
Pointers.  A  present  Captain,  J.  C.  Baker,  would  have 
been  of  them  had  he  not  disagreed  with  the  traditions  of 
the  Military  Academy.  However,  he  informed  his  father, 


CAMP  LEWIS  503 

Colonel  of  a  Texas  regiment,  that  if  he,  J.  C.,  didn't  wear 
leather  leggings  and  ride  a  black  horse,  it  would  be  be- 
cause they  were  not  longer  made  nor  bred.  His  leggings, 
you  observe,  are  leather,  and,  being  Adjutant  of  the 
regiment  and  so  of  the  staff,  he  already  rides  his  black 
horse,  although  if  it  were  not  for  his  ability,  he  would 
be  awaiting  one  more  rank  to  mount  him. 

Capt.  R.  K.  Smith  is  another  Colonel's  son,  retired — 
the  Colonel,  decidedly  not  the  Captain, — and  Supply 
Captain  Reade  M.  Ireland  is  a  nephew  of  Col.  Ireland 
who  went  to  France  upon  Gen.  Pershing's  Staff.  There 
are  a  number  of  Michigan  men  in  the  44th.  First-Lieuts. 
Ireland  and  Lankaster  are  of  them,  sent  from  Fort  Sheridan. 

Some  of  the  44th  Infantry  say  that  Chaplain  Kendall 
should  drop  his  first  name,  John,  in  favor  of  Truman, 
his  descriptive  second.  He  was  born  in  Wisconsin,  to 
which  state  his  grandparents  came  in  the  '50's,,  and  where 
Grandth'r  Kendall  put  in  thirty  years  of  missionary 
ministry. 

The  chaplain  is  a  graduate  of  Lawrence  College,  same 
State.  He  entered  the  ministry  in  1898,  enlisted  in  the 
Wisconsin  National  Guard,  in  1908,  was  commissioned 
chaplain  and  Captain  of  the  2nd  Infantry  three  years 
after,  mustered  into  United  States  Service  in  1916,  into 
the  Regular  Army  as  First-Lieutenant,  September  12,  1917, 
and  assigned  to  the  44th. 

He  has  taken  much  interest  in  the  club-house,  where 
a  branch  of  Liberty  Library  is  housed,  where  there  are 
card,  billiard  and  pool  tables,  desks  with  44th  Infantry 
stationery,  a  piano,  a  rest  room  for  women,  for  it  is  a 
long  way  to  Liberty  Gate — and  a  hard  wood  floor  for 
dancing.  How  odd  it  would  have  seemed  in  a  recent  past 
for  a  Methodist  elder  to  be  managing  dancing  parties! 
He  would  have  been  "churched."  Instead,  Epworth  Church 
has  adopted  the  44th. 

The  men  have  contributed  to  a  fund  which  pays  bus 
fare  both  ways  for  those  invited  to  their  dances  and 
their  chaperones,  although  the  rate,  as  with  the  Artillery 
buses  for  the  same  purpose,  was  raised  for  their  benefit. 


504 


THE    NINETY-FIRST 


CHAPLAIN  JOHN  T.   KENDALL 

In  passing,  the  bus  service  to  and  from  the  city  has,  from 
first  to  last,  been  a  sore  subject.  Soldiers  have  wasted, 
all  told,  days  of  precious  time  standing  in  the  rain  in 
a  two  or  three-block  line  waiting  for  ramshackle  vehicles 
to  take  them,  and  their  entire  day's  pay,  for  the  trip. 
Here's  hoping  the  next  Division  will  be  better  provided  for. 
Beside  Lieut.  Kendall,  another  of  this  regiment  is  from 
Lawrence  College,  Wisconsin,  though  he  was  born  the 
world  away,  in  Kurdistan,  not  far  from  ancient  Nineveh. 
Lazarus  George  first  attended  the  little  rural  school  at 
Baz,  then,  for  three  years,  the  Presbyterian  College  at 
Urmia,  Persia.  He  was  upon  a  furlough  when  Dr.  Coan, 
president  of  that  college,  visited  this  Coast  and  Camp,  so, 


CAMP  LEWIS  505 

to  George's  great  disappointment,  he  missed  seeing  his 
former  professor. 

Lazarus  George  enlisted  from  Chicago,  and  is  now 
corporal  in  Company  B.  He  is  an  Assyrian.  When  Rus- 
sians and  Kurds  abandoned  the  Allies,  they  left  his  people 
to  the  tender  mercies  of  the  Turks.  All  of  his  family  and 
relations  were  massacred  except  his  mother  and  one  other 
who  escaped  from  the  country  but  doubtless  died  of 
starvation,  as  he  has  never  heard  from  either.  It  was  the 
knowledge  of  their  suffering  that  made  the  rug-merchant 
volunteer  as  soldier:  the  native  of  a  country  covered  with 
wonderful  ruins  of  a  high  civilization,  extending  as  many 
centuries  B.  C.  as  this  baby  one  of  ours  lies  A.  D.,  to 
join  men  of  America  against  an  uncivilized  foe.  When 
this  war  is  won,  he  will  return  to  the  land  of  his  fathers 
as  missionary  of  new  faith  and  new  works. 

Another  foreigner  in  the  44th  who  volunteered,  and 
who  already  wears  two  stripes  upon  his  sleeve,  is  Bogo 
Popich,  Serbian.  He,  too,  has  a  debt  to  pay,  not  only  to 
his  oppressed  yet  dauntless  land,  but  to  hated  Austria. 
Of  two  brothers,  drafted  into  the  army  there,  one  was 
killed  in  action,  the  other  basely  murdered.  Jumping 
contests  were  held  in  his  regiment  for  a  money  prize  which 
the  despised  Serbian  won.  The  following  night,  Austrian 
soldiers  robbed  him  of  the  money,  dragged  him  from  his 
tent,  and  beat  him  to  death  with  the  long  loaves  of  black 
bread  furnished  the  army.  Bogo  Popich  was  in  this  land 
of  freedom  but  enlisted  at  once  and  grimly  awaits  his 
chance. 

That  jumping  contest  recalls  anotther  in  which  a  44th 
man  made  an  amazing  running  trench  leap  of  nineteen 
feet-three  inches  at  the  Division  Meet,  not  in  trunks,  mind 
you,  but  in  full  uniform  and  field  shoes,  not  carrying 
propelling  weights,  as  Popich's  brother  did,  but  a  gun 
and  bayonet  weighing  nearly  ten  pounds.  Perhaps  his 
name  helped  him,  Bird,  Sergeant  Bird. 

More  than  that,  he  was  obliged  to  hold  his  alighting 
position,  to  pierce  a  dummy  lying  upon  the  ground,  with- 
draw his  bayonet  after  the  leap  and  thrust  it  into  an 
imaginary  standing  enemy. 


506 


THE    NINETY-FIRST 


The  44th  is  very  proud  of  taking  third  place  in  this 
Meet,  and  with  reason.  As  was  said,  the  regiment  is 
not  a  part  of  the  91st  Division,  so  it  was  somebody's 
omission  that  they  were  not  informed  they  were  expected 
to  take  part  in  the  contests.  Other  regiments  practiced 


CAMP  LEWIS  507 

all  their  free  time  for  weeks,  but  this,  which  beside  was 
not  then  at  war  strength,  did  nothing  along  those  lines. 
Not  until  Retreat  the  night  before  the  tournament,  was  a 
Bulletin  from  Headquarters  read  informing  the  44th  that 
it  would  compete  at  1:30  next  afternoon,  trench-jumping, 
relay  race  etc.  etc. 

Dismay,  and  something  blacker,  forsooth,  clouded 
their  faces,  and  tongues  ran  relay  and  squad  races  till 
Taps.  But  Col.  Jones  rose  to  the  occasion,  boast  the 
boys.  He  ordered  the  regiment  massed  at  seven  next 
morning  and  himself  addressed  the  men.  He  told  them 
they  should  have  the  entire  morning  to  achieve  what  others 
had  weeks  to  prepare  for.  He  suggested  that  very  Com- 
pany choose  its  athletes,  and  they,  leaders,  for  intensive 
training.  This  they  did,  with  two  of  the  results  as  above. 

"Yes,  and  we  should  have  had  first  instead  of  second 
place  in  squad  drill,  everybody  concedes  that.  It  was 
given  out  that  no  applause  would  be  allowed  to  distract 
contestants,  and  there  was  none  until  our  squad  did  such 
perfect  work  that  the  onlookers  applauded  and  one  of 
our  men  lost  his  head — or  his  foot — Oh,  but  we  were 
sore!"  this  from  a  man  of  the  44th,  as  you  have  guessed. 

An  athlete  who  for  a  time  acted  as  physical  director 
at  the  near-by  Y  is  Private  Frio  of  B,  who  was  for  three 
years  featherweight  champion  of  New  England.  He  was 
traveling  with  a  circus  when  he  decided  that  a  pup  tent 
was  the  big  one,  and  enlisted  while  West. 

Private  W.  E.  Stevens  of  F  hails  from  Cheyenne, 
Gen.  Pershing's  home,  where  a  star  upon  the  service  flag 
of  St.  Mark's  Episcopal  Church,  says  Stevens,  shines 
among  the  300,  for  Pershing.  Private  Stevens  of  the 
44th,  and  Gen.  Pershing,  head  of  the  United  States  army 
in  France,  belong  to  the  same  club  in  Cheyenne,  Wyoming. 

One  Company  of  the  44th,  too  soldierly,  being  Regulars, 
to  comment,  looks  perfectly  blank  if  by  any  chance  one 
touch  upon  phychiatry.  The  reason  is  a  Greek,  who  no 
longer  belongs.  The  man  never  spoke,  not  even  yea  or 
nay,  till  it  got  on  a  fellow's  nerves;  it  was  fair  uncanny. 
This  went  on  for  months,  till  one  day  he  suddenly  opened 


508  THE    NINETY-FIRST 

the  floodgates  of  his  speech  and  inundated  his  messmates. 
He  talked  from  Reveille  to  Taps  and  from  Taps  to  Reveille. 
He  proposed  the  most  preposterous  schemes,  discussed 
idiotic  inventions.  First  he  was  disciplined,  next  he  was 
taken  to  the  infirmary,  finally  he  was  brought  before  the 
Psychiatric  Board  and  dismissed  from  the  service. 

Suddenly  and  permanently  restored  to  normal,  P — 
is  now  steadily  employed,  at  good  wages,  at  a  local  ship- 
yard, "but  what  can  you  expect  of  a  Greek  ?" 

On  the  contrary,  there's  an  American  private  with  a 
large  auto  business  at  Bellingham.  Whenever  he  has  a 
day  off,  he  buys  a  machine,  runs  himself  home  in  it,  sells 
the  car,  and  comes  back  to  Camp  Lewis  by  train.  Then, 
again,  there's  First  Sergeant  John  Walker  of  Headquarters 
Company,  who  enlisted  last  June  "hoping  to  go  quick." 
He  became  Sergeant-Major  of  the  regiment,  but  demoted 
himself  because  he  "wanted  to  get  back  into  the  line  and 
a  fighting  chance."  He'd  had  enough  office  business  in  the 
big  smelter  in  which  his  father  is  partner.  But  then  he 
is  not  a  Greek,  either,  though  not  so  far  back  an  American 
as  Jeff  Secena,  also  of  Headquarters  Company,  a  Chehalis 
Indian  who  enlisted  in  Salem,  Oregon. 

Walker  is  not  the  Sergeant  who  has  recently  been 
training  recruits,  and  who  is  still  out  of  breath.  Double 
time,  it  should  be  explained,  is  top  speed,  while  quick  is 
only  a  dog  trot.  The  sergeant  had  ordered  double  and, 
seeing  a  friend  he  wished  to  speak  to,  called  "quick." 
Instead  of  slowing  up,  the  men,  eager  to  do  their  best, 
started  off  at  a  pace  to  win  a  race,  and  the  sergeant,  who 
is  stout,  "lost  ten  pounds  catching  his  men.  Wish  he  had 
the  ordering  us  to  France." 

Well,  the  first  shall  be  last, 

But 

the  last  shall  be  first,  44th. 


CAMP  LEWIS  509 

After  f  ou  £rft 

You  remember  the  1st  Infantry  were  at  Murray  await- 
ing your  departure.  Well,  commanded  by  Lt.  Col.  E.  A. 
Shuttleworth,  they  entered  your  barracks  the  very  day 
you  vacated  them,  though  their  Pioneer  Company,  under 
Capt.  Meriwether  Lewis,  with  Clarke,  four  sergeants  and 
twenty  enlisted  men,  broke  the  trail  in  1803.  It  took 
the  regiment  a  long,  long  time  to  reach  here,  but  you 
see  it  is  old,  the  oldest  in  the  United  States,  born  in  June, 
1784.  They  had  celebrated  the  first  Fourth  of  July 
in  the  new  Nation,  and  they  celebrated  the  first  in  the  new 
cantonment.  Pity  you  were  not  here  for  the  Birthday. 

As  in  many  a  family,  the  youngest  was  first  to  break 
the  home  circle  and  go  out  into  the  world:  so  you.  Some 
of  you  were  but  boys,  yet  your  unlived  college  days  lie 
long  behind.  Suddenly  you  are  men,  gone  upon  a  terrible 
business. 

Some  of  you  wedded  the  women  you  love  before  you 
went,  resolved,  so  you  said,  to  seal  them  to  that  future 
which  you  were  sure  you  would  return  to  share.  And 
many  of  those  brides,  such  girlish  brides,  are  bearing 
your  absence  and  your  little  ones  at  the  same  weary  time, 
but  very  bravely,  be  sure  you  realize  that.  Winning  the 
greater  glory,  yours  is  the  lesser  courage. 

And  some  of  you  left  little  curly-heads  behind.  Their 
sleepy  eyes  sometimes  close  in  the  midst  of  their  prayer 
for  you  "away,  'way  off  in  Fwance,"  but  She  finishes  it, 
or  rather  carries  it  on  to  you.  Other  women  we  had  all 
thought  hard,  or  rattle-brained,  absorbed  in  trifles — and, 
indeed,  they  were:  you  suspected,  perhaps  even  knew  it — 
are  putting  the  little  ones  to  bed  themselves  now,  every 
night,  to  the  wondering  joy  of  the  children.  You  should 
hear  their  unwonted  prayers,  but  very  likely  you  do. 
Messages  by  wireless  from  the  soul  are  picked  up  clearly 
even  amid  the  dim  of  battle. 

A  few  of  you  left  older  children  who  are  back  at 
school,  studying  hard  to  do  you  credit,  making  no  trouble 
for  mother  and  grandmother,  they  want  me  to  tell  you, 


510  THE   NINETY-FIRST 

trying  to  take  your  place,  though  of  course  that  is  im- 
possible, no  one  in  the  world  can  do  that,  no  one;  but 
they  are  trying  to  be  a  comfort.  They  are  quieter  than 
they  used  to  be,  graver  than  perhaps  you  would  like  to 
see  them,  but  not  moping,  you  understand,  just  standing 
by  the  women  you  left  to  care  for  them,  or  was  it  to  be 
cared  for  by  them?  No  matter,  it  is  working  both  ways. 
It  would  make  you  proud  to  hear  what  Paul  and  Pauline 
say  of  their  soldier  father.  At  least  you  should  be  proud, 
but  perhaps — no,  of  course  not,  it  cannot  be  that  it  makes 
you  ashamed. 

As  for  you  elder,  ranking  officers,  whose  sons  fight 
with  you  at  the  Front,  leaving  your  women  folk  doubly 
bereft  and  doubly  proud,  they  would  be  insufferable  in  that 
pride  were  they  not  humbled  by  the  loneliness.  But  you 
must  hear  only  how  brave  they  are,  every  whit  as  brave 
as  you  across  the  sea  bearing  the  leadership  of  this  great 
Last  War  for  Peace. 

And  so,  from  the  wee  baby  who  has  not  yet  come  wail- 
ing into  this  sorrowful  world,  from  the  dear  little  imps 
who  laughed  when  you  went,  and  the  elders  who  smiled 
till  your  trains  pulled  out,  to  the  dear  old  people  who  "go 
softly  all  their  days,"  we  are  loving  you,  longing  and 
praying  for  you,  believing  in  you,  proud  of  you,  working 
hard  and  waiting  hard  for  You. 

In  our  language  there  is,  unfortunately,  no  word  of 
farewell,  which,  like  au  revoir  or  hasta  la  bueta,  presages 
happy  return ;  so  we  upon  the  watchtower  in  beloved 
America,  light  you  this  beacon,  and  throw  its  gleam  across 
sea  and  war,  signaling — 


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